2001 Romanee-St-Vivant
By Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
2001 Romanee-St-Vivant from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Burgundy, France
In the pantheon of remarkable Burgundian vintages, the year 2001 often rings with a silver note rather than gold—an overshadowed offering in a harp string sequence of acclaimed Millennial harvests. Among these vintages, however, lies a somewhat unsung hero: the 2001 Romanee-St-Vivant from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti. It is a vintage which veritably flaunts its unique character with an alluring combination of maturity and vibrancy.
Revelation in the Glass: The 2001 Vintage Exemplified
The year 2001 spoke in whispers of hardship across Burgundy's storied landscapes; it was not without its skirmishes against nature. In this battle, the tenacity of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti's vines under duress gave us wines of unexpected resilience and depth. As one decants the 2001 Romanee-St-Vivant, it burgeons into a tapestry of ethereal fragrances—think ancient library books interwoven with a compote of autumnal red berries and a hint of sous-bois.
Flickers of spice and worn leather pirouette within the chalice, punctuating the elegant silhouette of this wine. Tasting reveals a duality—a core of tenacious tannins enveloped in a shroud of silken fruit—an intricate ballet performed flawlessly on the tongue. The patience afforded by years in bottle marries complexity with finesse, rewarding investors and aficionados with a carefully choreographed display.
An Investment of Time: Patience's Reward
For the discerning curator of fine wines, the 2001 Romanee-St-Vivant signifies an intelligent acquisition—a synthesis of historical reverence and exemplary viticulture. As one contemplates this bottle's place within their collection, it whispers somber promises to unveil splendour with every future uncorking.
The providence that shapes fine wine investment has smiled upon this bottle. Its emergence as one not merely to savor but to behold as a tactile asset has solidified its standing among contemporaries. It remains ensconced in rarity—a precious vestige from a producer whose reputation needs no embellishment.
In summary, embracing the 2001 Romanee-St-Vivant from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti is to invest in a vintage that pledges to transcend time—a perfect marriage between the ephemeral and the everlasting.
Market price (CAD)
$62,910.00
12x75cl
Highest score
88
POP score
4725
Scores and tasting notes
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
Pierre Rovani - The Wine Advocate, 29 June 2003