1985 Romanee St Vivant

The 1985 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru (from a vineyard that, along with others, was sold to Lalou Bize-Leroy three years later) was poured from magnum. It has a lightly ferrous, rather muddy nose that feels rustic for this vineyard, turning quite briny with aeration. The palate is better: well balanced and lightly spiced with moderate depth. It runs out of ideas toward the fatigued finish, yet it does have bucolic charm.