1993 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru, Marey-Monge

An absolutely gorgeous wine, the 1993 Romanée St. Vivant is sinewy, nervous and beautifully persistent, with all of the aromatic intensity that makes wines from this site so compelling. Deceptively medium in body, the 1993 offers terrific depth and pure pedigree.

The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's 1993 Romanée-St-Vivant Grand Cru is drinking beautifully today, soaring from the glass with scents of dark wild berries, rose petals, orange rind, cinnamon and a lavish application of new oak. Full-bodied, fleshy and rather generous for the vintage, it's deep and concentrated, with supple tannins and a long, penetrating finish.

A light garnet core with watery/rust rim. The bouquet is very typical of the vintage, slightly leafy at first, amazing clarity, woodland/damp moss aromas, light red cherry and cranberry. The palate is medium-bodied, for me just lacking a little freshness, slightly decayed in character with a savoury dryness on the second half. Not a hollow wine, but lacking some stuffing certainly and the finish is very dry and slightly bitter. I expected more to be brutally honest. Drink now-2014. Tasted December 2008.

I am never as thrilled with the Romanee-St.-Vivant as are others. Certainly the 1993 possesses the tell-tale, earthy, cinnamon, herb, and black-cherry-scented nose with an undeniable strong mineral and vegetal component. The wine comes across as slightly rustic, with high tannin, and its toughness and compactness indicate it needs 8-9 years of cellaring. It may have the potential to last for two decades, but I am not sure how much fruit is going to emerge from behind the savage tannin level. It is medium-bodied and marked by its terroir. The DRC's 1993s possess the vintage's toughness, tannic structure, austerity, and aging potential. They will not be flattering to drink in their youth, and most will require 6-10 years of cellaring. Typical of the vintage, they appear to be the most tannic and structured wines made at this domaine since 1983. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 31/08/1995 I am never as thrilled with the Romanee-St.-Vivant as are others. Certainly the 1993 possesses the tell-tale, earthy, cinnamon, herb, and black-cherry-scented nose with an undeniable strong mineral and vegetal component. The wine comes across as slightly rustic, with high tannin, and its toughness and compactness indicate it needs 8-9 years of cellaring. It may have the potential to last for two decades, but I am not sure how much fruit is going to emerge from behind the savage tannin level. It is medium-bodied and marked by its terroir. The DRC''s 1993s possess the vintage''s toughness, tannic structure, austerity, and aging potential. They will not be flattering to drink in their youth, and most will require 6-10 years of cellaring. Typical of the vintage, they appear to be the most tannic and structured wines made at this domaine since 1983. Tasting note: Classic and explosive RSV nose with superbly elegant black fruit nose framed by a subtle touch of wood that just exudes Asian spice followed by tight, pure, concentrated and intense flavors of outstanding complexity and length. This is dense and still quite young. A dramatic, extremely impressive wine that has it all and I would suggest giving this at least another 5 years of cellar time and drink over the next 15. (94)