Usually one of the more seductive, feminine wines in the range, the 2012 Romanée St.-Vivant is unusually powerful and structured. Huge, searing tannins and super-expressive, bright acidity both are a prominent today. The 2012 is going to need a number of years in bottle to approach the early part of what is likely to be a very long drinking window. A huge finish totally drenched with saline notes is breathtaking, if not especially typical of RSV. Needless to say, the 2012 is going to be a fascinating wine to follow over the next several decades. - VM
VM97+