2006 Romanee St Vivant
By Domaine Dujac
2006 Romanee St Vivant from Domaine Dujac, Vosne-Romanée, Burgundy, France
Not all vintages shine with the same lustre, but the 2006 Romanee St Vivant from Domaine Dujac glistens with a unique patina in the pantheon of Burgundian reds. As I delve into this particular year, a tapestry of climatic nuances imparts a singular distinction upon its character.
A Testament to Resilience and Refinement
The growing season of 2006 was marked by trials that tested the mettle of Burgundy's vineyards. Frequent showers and a mild summer insinuated an unpredictable vintage. However, it is in such years that the craft of Domaine Dujac's winemaking distinguishes itself; the adaptive precision and dedicated terroir management yielded a wine that speaks both of resilience and refinement.
In the glass, the 2006 Romanee St Vivant whispers tales of ripe fruits and subliminal spice, upheld by a backbone of minerality—a hallmark of this storied plot. Aromas unfurl like tightly bound silk, releasing glimpses of cherry and autumnal earthiness. On the palate, the integration of tannins suggests an embraceable maturity without forsaking structure or depth—a testament to its potential longevity and investability.
Vintage Individuality the Investor’s Delight
For connoisseurs and investors alike, terroir is not simply the environment but a historical narrative encapsulated in each bottle. The 2006 Romanee St Vivant distinctly captures that year's story, providing collectors with a chance to indulge in—or capitalise on—a specific chapter of Burgundy's enological chronicle.
As a fine wine investment, Domaine Dujac’s offering from this challenging yet ultimately rewarding vintage represents an asset ripe for diversifying one’s portfolio, balancing both esteemed pedigree with a compelling vintage narrative.
In summation, this iteration does not merely echo the qualities of its kin; it reaffirms them while flourishing with its own voice. The 2006 Romanee St Vivant from Domaine Dujac poses not just as a sensory pleasure but as a wise potential beacon for portfolios seeking wines with character shaped by time and trial.
Market price (CAD)
$40,030.00
12x75cl
Highest score
97
POP score
1414.71
Scores and tasting notes
The Dujac 2006 Romanee St.-Vivant is extraordinarily perfumed by black raspberry, lily, honeysuckle, narcissus, ginger, star anise, and fennel pollen, all of which are complimented rather than contradicted by a bit of sweet new woodiness. (Seysses says his toasting instructions for these barrels – there were only two of Romanee St.-Vivant this year; half a barrique less than in 2005 – were misunderstood, with the result that it wasn't quite deep enough and there is a bit of superficial coconut aroma, about which, he adds, "I am not concerned long-term.") A musky sense of liquid floral perfume and liqueur-like essence of spiced black fruits and Pinot carnality inform the rich, dense palate of this exceptional, almost endlessly lingering elixir which simultaneously marries near-implosive concentration with animation, elegance, and sheer refreshment. You could – perhaps, should, were you to be lucky enough to acquire some – spend an entire evening savoring this, not to mention the next 12-15 years smugly savoring the knowledge that some exists in your cellar. Jeremy Seysses only destemmed a minority of his 2006 fruit, and in some appellations none. The results demonstrate that Dujac got things ripe – not to mention right – in a challenging vintage, with a collection that need not fear comparison with 2005 at this address. (Perhaps, if anything, 2005 ought to look to its laurels!) The team here started picking only on September 23, and then very meticulously and selectively. Clos de la Roche, for example, was picked in two passes nearly a week apart. The top wines came in at between 13 and 13.5% natural alcohol, with minimal chaptalization employed in some instances to extend fermentation. "Color and flavor extraction was easy," says Seysses, "and we did more punch-downs than in 2005, because we felt quite confident of our material. The fruit is fresh and crisp, but not green, and we had no jamminess. It was just right. There's very little to complain about." Indeed! Importer: The Sorting Table, Napa, CA; tel. (415) 491-4724
David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate, 21 December 2009