Tasted at Bern’s, this wine had a deep red center and tawny rims. The nose was a bit quite at first but then quickly ramped up to high- intensity notes of plum, tan spices, figs, almond paste, and soil. The nose was 98+ quality.
In the mouth, this was ripe with great balance and refinement. It had rounded tannin, a silky texture, firm acidity, and great length.
My only quibble was that this wine was certain at its peak and further aging is likely to be detrimental rather than developmental. Enjoy (now)!
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This was easily one of the top wines of the night. It had such a pretty, limpid, rose/pink color, a la 1969! The wine was fine textured and gorgeous to behold, and even better to drink. The red fruit was so subtle showing tart strawberry, and sweet red cherry. It had such pretty and lightly, perfumed baking spices, that went so well with the fine, tart, and lovely fruit. This is a perfectly textured, perfectly tasting, and perfectly drinking, fully resolved RSV. (98)
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popped and served without decanting. Obvious notes of stewed fruit, still a little sweetness on the nose, so fragrant and lovely. Later on also a little bit of black olive, and almost a little nutty on the nose. Acidity relatively high but still has a little sweetness on the palate.
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popped and served without decanting. Very light color, initially acidic on the palate. Plenty of preserved salty plum (話梅) with savory notes, along with a little leather and certainly something fermented. Later started gathering body in the glass with aeration. Nose was nice and fruity, with plums, black fruits, and a little animal. Less powerful than expected, but a lovely wine nonetheless.
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With Club des Vingt, alongside the 1955 and the 1985 DRC. This was the marginal preference of most of those present, although to me the 1955 was equally beautiful. Still vigorous. Still holding beautiful cherry fruit on nose with lovely bottle complexity. Very intense on palate, with tannins largely dissipated but a lovely harmony and a very long finish. About as great a Burgundy as I can remember.
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No-doubter Burgundy of the night. A textbook RSV with those spice-bazaar aromatics - can't keep your nose out of the glass. I have heard complaints for years that the '69 vintage is starting to crack up, but there is not even a hint of that here. The fruit is still sweet and luscious, and with a deep, dark pitch. Cinnamon and pure black pinot fruit, with an exceptionally refined texture, just like RSV should be. Side note: I have seen bottles of this floating around from time to time (although none in as pristine a shape as this one was), and had always assumed it's from the old Domaine Marey-Monge before the lease to DRC. But there is a neck label on this from the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti with Henri de Villaine's signature stating, "Charge de l'exploitation du Domaine Marey-Monge 'Romanee-St-Vivant', je certife qu'il a ete recolte en 1969, 15.493 bouteilles numerotes de 1 a 15.493." So this would appear to be a stealth DRC RSV after all. Our bottle was number 005544.
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From a very cold cellar bought on release. Some browning. Nose jumped from the glass from the start. Asian spice, floral/stem notes. Very elegant style with red fruits. Complex. Balanced and long. A very good bottle. 95
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Knightsbridge Night at Next, El Bulli Menu (Next - Chicago IL): Great fill, great color, although the cork fell part into the bottle. Good aromatic start combines floral and earthy elements with some lingering red fruit. Palate is also mostly earthy with remaining red fruit and very good baking spice. Clearly mature and at least a decade past its peak, this had moderate length and intensity.
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Celebration Dinner (Chicago): Brown garnet color. Tired nose and palate. Some hint of fruit on the palate initially but dried out quickly. Better days long past for this bottle, I'm afraid.
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2 day tasting note with main tasting on second day. Wine treated with slow oxygenation method (Audouzing)
1st day on opening, just poured a couple of ounces into the glass, recorked the bottle and back to the cellar.
Amber rose colored and transpaerent. Aromas of violets, sous bois, perfume, decaying moss, some iron and singed earth. A bit thin in the midpalate, but with promise.
Day 2: A massive improvement in the nose, with tons of floral notes, perfume, rosemary, violets, almost like dry pot pourri. The midpalate fully rounded out into a very deep and transparent midweight beauty. Lots of savory notes, some soy and a gameiness like roasted venison. Although mostly secondary flavors at this point, the perfume, and fruit were still present and compelmeted by everything else going on. Really fine stuff. Perhaps I am sentimental as it was a B-day wine, but on day two this was flat out beautiful mature pinot.
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11/22/2022 - fclarity wrote: 97 Points
Tasted at Bern’s, this wine had a deep red center and tawny rims. The nose was a bit quite at first but then quickly ramped up to high- intensity notes of plum, tan spices, figs, almond paste, and soil. The nose was 98+ quality.
In the mouth, this was ripe with great balance and refinement. It had rounded tannin, a silky texture, firm acidity, and great length.
My only quibble was that this wine was certain at its peak and further aging is likely to be detrimental rather than developmental. Enjoy (now)!
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2/22/2020 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine: 98 Points
This was easily one of the top wines of the night. It had such a pretty, limpid, rose/pink color, a la 1969! The wine was fine textured and gorgeous to behold, and even better to drink. The red fruit was so subtle showing tart strawberry, and sweet red cherry. It had such pretty and lightly, perfumed baking spices, that went so well with the fine, tart, and lovely fruit. This is a perfectly textured, perfectly tasting, and perfectly drinking, fully resolved RSV. (98)
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5/17/2019 - Peech Likes this wine: 95 Points
popped and served without decanting. Obvious notes of stewed fruit, still a little sweetness on the nose, so fragrant and lovely. Later on also a little bit of black olive, and almost a little nutty on the nose. Acidity relatively high but still has a little sweetness on the palate.
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4/30/2016 - Peech Likes this wine: 94 Points
popped and served without decanting. Very light color, initially acidic on the palate. Plenty of preserved salty plum (話梅) with savory notes, along with a little leather and certainly something fermented. Later started gathering body in the glass with aeration. Nose was nice and fruity, with plums, black fruits, and a little animal. Less powerful than expected, but a lovely wine nonetheless.
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10/17/2015 - grandad Likes this wine: 100 Points
With Club des Vingt, alongside the 1955 and the 1985 DRC. This was the marginal preference of most of those present, although to me the 1955 was equally beautiful. Still vigorous. Still holding beautiful cherry fruit on nose with lovely bottle complexity. Very intense on palate, with tannins largely dissipated but a lovely harmony and a very long finish. About as great a Burgundy as I can remember.
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5/4/2014 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 98 Points
No-doubter Burgundy of the night. A textbook RSV with those spice-bazaar aromatics - can't keep your nose out of the glass. I have heard complaints for years that the '69 vintage is starting to crack up, but there is not even a hint of that here. The fruit is still sweet and luscious, and with a deep, dark pitch. Cinnamon and pure black pinot fruit, with an exceptionally refined texture, just like RSV should be. Side note: I have seen bottles of this floating around from time to time (although none in as pristine a shape as this one was), and had always assumed it's from the old Domaine Marey-Monge before the lease to DRC. But there is a neck label on this from the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti with Henri de Villaine's signature stating, "Charge de l'exploitation du Domaine Marey-Monge 'Romanee-St-Vivant', je certife qu'il a ete recolte en 1969, 15.493 bouteilles numerotes de 1 a 15.493." So this would appear to be a stealth DRC RSV after all. Our bottle was number 005544.
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5/4/2014 - rnellans wrote: 95 Points
From a very cold cellar bought on release. Some browning. Nose jumped from the glass from the start. Asian spice, floral/stem notes. Very elegant style with red fruits. Complex. Balanced and long. A very good bottle. 95
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4/24/2012 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Knightsbridge Night at Next, El Bulli Menu (Next - Chicago IL): Great fill, great color, although the cork fell part into the bottle. Good aromatic start combines floral and earthy elements with some lingering red fruit. Palate is also mostly earthy with remaining red fruit and very good baking spice. Clearly mature and at least a decade past its peak, this had moderate length and intensity.
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12/27/2009 - Peech wrote: 94 Points
very ripe and sweet with lychee notes. Faded a little with time.
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12/8/2009 - Rupert wrote: 87 Points
DRC Romanée St. Vivant vertical 1969-2006 (Institute of Directors, London): A bit more to it than the 70 and 72, with a fresh malty nose; like the others here, quite thick and smooth and sweet, but dull
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11/29/2008 - Burgundy Al wrote: flawed
A few highlights from a celebration (Northbrook, IL): Dried out and fairly DOA.
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11/29/2008 - winefool wrote:
Celebration Dinner (Chicago): Brown garnet color. Tired nose and palate. Some hint of fruit on the palate initially but dried out quickly. Better days long past for this bottle, I'm afraid.
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8/24/2008 - cct wrote: 95 Points
2 day tasting note with main tasting on second day. Wine treated with slow oxygenation method (Audouzing)
1st day on opening, just poured a couple of ounces into the glass, recorked the bottle and back to the cellar.
Amber rose colored and transpaerent. Aromas of violets, sous bois, perfume, decaying moss, some iron and singed earth. A bit thin in the midpalate, but with promise.
Day 2: A massive improvement in the nose, with tons of floral notes, perfume, rosemary, violets, almost like dry pot pourri. The midpalate fully rounded out into a very deep and transparent midweight beauty. Lots of savory notes, some soy and a gameiness like roasted venison. Although mostly secondary flavors at this point, the perfume, and fruit were still present and compelmeted by everything else going on. Really fine stuff. Perhaps I am sentimental as it was a B-day wine, but on day two this was flat out beautiful mature pinot.
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4/22/2007 - G SQUARED wrote: 94 Points
Dinner at Bern's. The saga continues. MM's are my new best friends. I hope to see them very often!!!!!!!
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