Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee St. Vivant Grand Cru (bin soiled label) 1988

Professional Ratings

• 90 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  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.