2018 Romanee St Vivant
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2018 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru has a very candied, aniseed-tinged bouquet that contains impressive intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, lovely orange-zest infused red fruit, gentle but insistent grip with an arresting, white pepper/spicy finish that leaves the tongue tingling. Impressive and delicious, though it will need cellaring. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 red tasting.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
This is ripe yet quite fresh and elegant with its super-spicy liqueur-like aromas of cassis, spice and discreet floral nuances. There is equally good freshness to the super-sleek, intense and refined middle weight flavors that retain good detail while also flashing impressive power on the sappy and acidulated bon bons finish. This isn't quite as interesting as the 2019 version but it's very good all the same.
The 2018 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru needs some encouragement from the glass but rewards the effort with wonderful pure dark cherry, bergamot, rose petal and vanilla pod aromas that gather pace with aeration. The harmonious palate is beautifully balanced with ripe succulent tannins and gentle grip. Gorgeous licorice-tinged black fruit here, and a very persistent finish. This is a superb Romanée-Saint-Vivant fulfilling its potential from barrel.
About the producer
Founded in 1962 by Alain Hudelot and based in Chambolle-Musigny, Domaine Hudelot-Noëllat is today run by Alain’s grandson Charles van Canneyt and has become one of the region’s most respected estates.