Reviews & Scores
There are only hints of bricking present as the center remains dark ruby. The overtly ripe nose is an interesting mix of spicy black fruit aromas of incredible richness and complexity yet there is an underlying hint of greenness, probably from the stems, that detracts ever so slightly from the otherwise beautifully layered aromas. The flavors are big, rich, intense and very concentrated and this is years away from fully resolving the tannic backbone. Whether it will ever fully harmonize to become one of the great wines of the vintage is an open question but it clearly is impressive and imposing in its sheer size and weight if presently one-dimensional. My score offers the benefit of the doubt. Tasted six times recently with mostly consistent notes.
BH92
Meaty and glorious on the nose. Very fresh - real vigour and a bit uncompromising. Very masculine dry and burly. Great richness on the back palate and a very firm end. As I say, uncompromising! Yet it was the second favourite of the group after the 1949 de Vogüé Musigny.
JR18/20
The medium-to-dark ruby-colored 1990 Romanee-St.-Vivant offers beguiling, rich and spicy aromas of red fruits and toasty, vanilla-infused oak. It has a concentrated core of red and black fruits that is nestled in its still youthfully structured personality.
WA93
Gorgeous bouquet, complex and perfumed. It's beginning to lose the primary fruit notes of red currant, cherry and rose, turning to spice, dried flowers and woodsy flavors. Overall, it's rich, still slightly firm, with some tannins yet to be absorbed and long. Best from 2010 through 2038.
WS94