Domaine de La Romanée-Conti
Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru (Marey-Monge)
Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru
2017
Vintage
Varietal
Pinot Noir
Where it is, October 2026
At Peak: inside the peak window (2022-2055), within the full drinking arc.
In 2026 this wine sits in early-to-mid peak. The drinking window opened in 2020, and the plateau runs from 2022 through 2055 before a slow descent toward hard decline around 2068. That leaves a remarkably long runway: you can pull a cork tonight and find a wine that is open and giving, or cellar bottles for two or three more decades with confidence. The 2017 is an accessible, charming vintage, so there is no penalty for drinking early, yet the saline cut and high acid (9 of 10) mean the structure to carry it for years is firmly in place.
The ‘17 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru (Marey-Monge).
DRC's 2017 Romanee-Saint-Vivant: a creamy, saline grand cru that drinks beautifully now yet holds a runway to mid-century.
Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) drinking timeline
Storage and bottle condition can shift the experience.
The peak window sits inside the broader full drinking arc.
Tasting note
Structurally this is a study in poise: medium tannins around 6 of 10 give shape and a fine, dusty grip without clamping down, the body sits at a graceful 7 of 10, and a vivid acidity of 9 of 10 keeps everything taut and salivating. That high acid is the engine here, lifting the creamy mid-palate and stretching the finish into something genuinely saline and persistent. It is a grand cru built on tension and detail rather than weight, the kind of Pinot Noir that feels both generous now and coiled for the long haul.
The 2017 vintage
2017 answered years of growers' prayers. After a string of meagre, frost-hit and hail-battered seasons, nature finally delivered a plentiful, healthy crop in the Cote de Nuits, with volumes rivaling 2009. Cool, shower-punctuated harvest weather kept the reds fresh and balanced rather than heavy, and producers were struck by the wines' early poise; some invoked the lifted, fragrant reds of 1999. In Vosne-Romanee the result is pure, approachable grand cru with the freshness to age, a more open foil to the denser 2019.
About Domaine de La Romanée-Conti
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti farms the Marey-Monge parcel that makes up the majority of Romanee-Saint-Vivant, holding more than half the appellation in one contiguous block. The estate went fully biodynamic across its holdings in 2007 and vinifies with a high proportion of whole clusters, a choice that lends savory lift and structural detail. In the open, charming 2017 vintage that approach yields a wine of clarity and finesse rather than density.
From the cellar: pair with
Roast squab with morels and a red wine jus
The savory, gamey depth meets the wine's floral and savory overtones, while medium tannin (6 of 10) is just firm enough to frame the bird without overwhelming its delicacy.
Wild mushroom and truffle risotto
Creamy, umami-rich texture mirrors the wine's creamy mid-palate, and the high acidity (9 of 10) cuts the richness, keeping each bite refreshing and mouth-watering.
Seared salmon with a beurre rouge
The salt and fat suit a body of 7 of 10 and the saline finish, while bright acid (9 of 10) and gentle tannin (6 of 10) let Pinot Noir partner the fish without clashing.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 60-64F (16-18C)
- Decanting
- Decant 30 to 60 minutes. At early-to-mid peak this 2017 is already open and giving, so a short aeration is about lifting the floral and savory aromatics and rounding the texture rather than taming structure. With acidity at 9 of 10 and only moderate tannin (6 of 10), there is no harshness to blow off, so keep it gentle and pour while the saline finish is still vivid. Older bottles from deeper in the window may have sediment, so decant carefully off it.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
More from Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru
Frequently Asked
When should I drink this wine?
The canonical CAI full drinking arc is 2020-2068. Within that arc, the peak window is 2022-2055. The full arc is the broader period the wine may drink well; the peak window is when it is most likely to show its best balance. Storage, fill level, cork condition, and preference can shift the decision. Taste before adding more air or holding the rest.
Should I decant it?
Yes, give it 30 to 60 minutes. With moderate tannin (6 of 10) and high acidity (9 of 10) there is nothing harsh to soften; a short decant simply opens the floral and savory aromatics and rounds the creamy texture. Decant older bottles carefully to leave any sediment behind.
What food pairs best?
Lean into savory, earthy dishes that match its red cherry and saline character: roast squab with morels, wild mushroom and truffle risotto, or seared salmon with beurre rouge. The high acid (9 of 10) cuts richness while gentle tannin (6 of 10) keeps the pairing graceful rather than heavy.
How long can I cellar or hold it?
A long time. This grand cru can hold and improve through roughly 2055 before a slow decline toward 2068, so two to three more decades of patient cellaring is realistic at 55F and 60-70% humidity. The high acidity (9 of 10) and DRC structure are what carry it; there is no rush, but no penalty for drinking now either.
What should I open next in a similar style?
For more from the same cellar lane, explore the Burgundy cellar guide and a wider range of Pinot Noir wines. If you want the denser, more structured sibling vintage from the same vineyard, look at the 2019 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru.