Romanée Saint-Vivant is one of the seven Grand Crus of Vosne-Romanée. The others are La Romanée, Romanée Conti, Richbourg, La Tâche, Echézeaux and Grands-Echézeaux. All are world famous names. 

The clay, limestone and pebble mixture, offering superb drainage on a mild slope, is particularly well suited to the production of great red wines. The only grape variety is of course the Pinot Noir. 

At Maison Joseph Drouhin, the grapes are picked by hand and brought to the winery in Beaune. They ferment naturally and slowly in open wooden vats. The total fermentation and maceration is long : 17 to 19 days. Then, the wine stays in oak barrels for two years. It is fined with egg-whites prior to bottling. 

Of all the other Grand Crus of Vosne, Romanée Saint-Vivant is probably the most harmonious and elegant. 

The aromas, when young, are very fruity : black cherry, raspberry jelly and blackberry dominate. 

Later, the bouquet becomes very intense, and it is not unusual to discern haunting aromas of wet earth, truffles, moss or game. With time, the wine develops more concentrated aromas and flavours typical of the great red wines of Burgundy. 

On the palate, the wines are characterized by a silky richness which is in total harmony with the delicate tannins and acidity. Finesse and breed are the final impressions of this extraordinary wine. 

In some vintages, it is possible to fully enjoy Romanée Saint-Vivant after 6 or 7 years of ageing. More than often though, fifteen years are truly necessary to appreciate this "Burgundy miracle" in all its majesty.