The bottle in the tasting was corked and I have included a note from May, 2004 here: Rich, elegant and powerful fruit that displays the classic spice box character of a fine RSV. I particularly like the purity of expression (yet no lack of power) which combined with the outstanding length make this a terrific effort that should continue to improve and then hold at this level for a number of years. Consistent notes.

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I had a slight reservation about the Romanee St.-Vivant. As in 1987, I wondered whether the 1988 was excessively tannic and a gamble for the long run. There is no doubting its massive constitution, full body, and rich extract, but the tannins seemed extremely hard and tough, and this wine would appear to be at least a decade away from drinkability. Perhaps because one so rarely encounters this old-style, tannic type of burgundy, it is tempting to dismiss it as too hard and tough. Yet this wine might very well have the unheard-of aging potential of 30 or more years.

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Really lovely. Everyone loved it.