Quite complex and classically, even brilliantly, spicy on both the nose and the palate but the beginning of what is likely to be a graceful decline is in sight. While this is indeed still wonderfully tasty and lovely as the flavors display soy, hoisin and anise notes, the vibrancy this had in its youth has now passed and it has become a sweet older burg in character. I would suggest drinking this over the next 10 years. Consistent notes.

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The oak sticks out a bit on this one, and it's beautiful oak even though it shows butterscotch on the finish, it's elegantly balanced. Not in the same league as the other DRC reds.

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The Romanee St.-Vivant is tannic, with the telltale iron-like scent, cinnamon, and gout de terroir that, for me, make it the most unique wine of the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti stable. It is quite tannic and needs cellaring until 1993-1994. This fabled estate has had a brilliant track record since 1978. Lalou Bize-Leroy and Aubert de Villaine seem to have everything tightly within their grasps, so it is unlikely that some of the lapses in quality control that occurred previously will resurface. I am sure they still cannot understand why their estate is so frequently singled out for malicious attacks, but no one should have any trouble appreciating the domaine's 1985s, which are their best wines in decades, even surpassing their sensational 1978s. The problem is coming up with the cash to finance them. The wines, aged in 100% new oak, are never filtered.

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