The 2012 Romanée St. Vivant screams of pure beauty. A classic RSV bouquet laced with floral notes leads to bright red fruit as this chiseled, intensely perfumed Burgundy shows off its considerable class. Dazzling and intense, the 2012 is utterly captivating from the very first taste. Structure is implied rather than stated in a wine that captures the essence of this great site. In 2012, Hudelot Noellat's RSV is a clear stand out.

Bright full red. Great chalky lift to the aromas of raspberry, cocoa powder and Oriental spices. Like liquid silk in the mouth, conveying an impression of powerful intensity without any undue weight. Brisk, sappy flavors of pomegranate, cranberry, blood orange and fresh herbs show razor-sharp precision. The extraordinary cut here verges on bitterness. A wine of extraordinary verve, finishing with great palate-staining perfume. Leaves intense aromas of blueberry, blackberry and violet in the empty glass. Charles van Canneyt told me that he actually forgot to leave some whole clusters, so he ended up adding back about 45% of the stems for the fermentation.