Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-st. Vivant Grand Cru 2021 750ml

The 2021 Romanée-Saint-Vivant from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti showcases this enigmatic Grand Cru in a vintage that demanded exceptional skill and selection. Often described as the most delicate and ethereal of DRC's holdings, Romanée-Saint-Vivant in 2021 demonstrates how challenging conditions can actually enhance this vineyard's natural elegance, producing a wine of crystalline purity and haunting beauty.

The nose displays the kind of precision and clarity that only comes from rigorous selection in a difficult vintage. Fresh red cherry and wild strawberry aromas seem to float from the glass with exceptional delicacy, accompanied by an enchanting floral bouquet - violet, iris, and white flowers create an almost garden-like impression. What distinguishes Romanée-Saint-Vivant is its particular combination of delicacy and intensity, here expressed with laser-like focus. Subtle notes of white tea, star anise, and crushed herbs emerge, while a distinctive mineral quality adds backbone.

On the palate, this wine epitomizes the paradox of great Burgundy - simultaneously weightless and concentrated. Despite the vintage challenges, DRC's uncompromising standards have resulted in a wine of surprising depth. The texture is pure silk, with tannins so fine they seem to dissolve instantly. Bright red fruit flavors - cranberry, redcurrant, and blood orange - are enhanced by notes of Chinese five-spice, white pepper, and that distinctive RSV character that combines femininity with underlying power.

The 2021 vintage has actually accentuated Romanée-Saint-Vivant's natural character. Where warmer vintages might mask its delicacy with richness, this cooler year allows every nuance to shine through. Mid-palate, complex layers emerge - rose hip, sandalwood, white truffle, and subtle earth notes create a multi-dimensional experience. The natural high acidity provides structure and energy, ensuring this ethereal wine has the framework for long aging.

What makes this bottling particularly fascinating is how it captures RSV's essential mystery - that quality that makes it perhaps the most intellectually engaging of all DRC's wines. It requires attention, even meditation, to fully appreciate its subtleties. This is not a wine that announces itself boldly but rather reveals its secrets gradually to those patient enough to listen.

The finish is remarkably persistent for such a delicate wine, with waves of red fruit, exotic spices, and mineral notes that seem to gain intensity rather than fade. While this wine will require patience to show its full potential, those who cellar it properly will be rewarded with one of the vintage's most profound expressions. In 20-30 years, this may well be recognized as one of the great RSVs - a testament to how exceptional terroir and masterful winemaking can transcend difficult conditions. A wine for true Burgundy devotees who appreciate subtlety over power.