Domaine Alain Hudelot-Noellat, Romanee Saint Vivant Grand Cru 2002

The 2002 Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru is showing brilliantly. It has a very complex bouquet with dark berry fruit, sea spray, crushed rose petals and minerals that seem to blossom with aeration. The palate is beautifully balanced with filigree tannin, a perfect line of acidity, perhaps just a little chewiness on the entry but there is a wonderful crescendo and such purity on the finish. Before its identity was revealed I suggested it might be a Richebourg and I continued to think that way after. Superb. Tasted bling at Philippe’s Xmas lunch.