1996 - Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru Marey-Monge, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti

The 1996 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru puts in a splendid performance. Quite deep in colour (like many Pinots this vintage), it has a bewitching and precise bouquet with dark cherries, crushed stone, iris and oyster shells, gaining more and more delineation as it opens in the glass. The palate is very focused, fresh and vibrant, hints of Earl Grey infusing the red fruit and silky smooth in texture. It displays the femininity of this vineyard, precise and shimmering with energy on the finish. This is a great showing and yet one can tell it has another two or three decades of pleasure to give. Tasted over dinner at Oswald's in London.