This displays a positively classic nose of soaring Asian spices, ripe plum and a gamut of ripe, pure and lacy red and black fruits with the latter predominating all wrapped together with a seductive kiss of sweetly scented, highly perfumed violets; the nose is, in a word, intoxicating. All of this aromatic intensity leads to remarkably powerful, linear, borderline robust flavors that show simply unbelievable complexity and stunning length. This will very likely surpass every other RSV from the Domaine in recent memory. A dazzling effort.

Deep red-ruby. Highly nuanced nose combines blackberry, dark chocolate, coffee and cracked pepper. Wonderfully thick and mouthfilling; extremely silky for this cuvee Very youthful flavors of blackberry, Oriental spices, cocoa powder, mocha, iron and pepper. Offers an uncanny combination of fat and grip. A great vintage for this bottling. De Villaine noted that the domain has eliminated three parcels of vines that were bringing "something too wild and aggressive."

The 2001 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru has quite a deep hue. Intense dark berry on the nose, hints of orange rind and even a faint melted tar scent. This is a surprising showing for the normally transparent Romanée-Saint-Vivent - this is opaque and surly, yet the tannins are finely hewn. Backward in style, as I commented before, it is doing a delicious impersonation of a Richebourgh! I would afford this more time in bottle. Tasted at Alino's dinner at La Trompette.

The 2001 Romanee-St.-Vivant is ruby-colored and sports a nose of white pepper, spices, and black cherries. Light to medium-bodied, it is juicy, delicate, and reveals an oak-laced red fruit-flavored character. This complex, lace-like wine tightens in the finish, displaying notes of vanilla-laced new oak. Drink it over the next 6-7 years. Concerning the 2001s, de Villaine, the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti’s co-director, stated that “it was not an easy year, it was a real roller coaster for vignerons. The estate’s vineyards, like everyone in Burgundy, had rot infestations so we did two harvests, one for the best, healthiest bunches and then another. Of course, we meticulously sorted all the fruit as we always do.” Those readers who are always looking for news concerning the next vintage will be interested to hear the following. Unlike almost all his colleagues who said that 2002 was going to be a spectacular vintage, de Villaine informed me that it would “another irregular year.” Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661

One of the darkest and most impressive of the DRC 2001s. Mid ruby with some evolution. Serious, dense, intriguing nose – dry rather than sweet. Really quite powerful. Heady and now we enter into the magic kingdom of DRC! Very luscious and with some greenness still but with great fruit. Freshness and density. Dancing. The ripest and most complete. Broad, this wine spreads across the palate. Real sweetness, with delicacy. Long. Great life to this. (JR)