# Romanée-St-Vivant Marey-Monge (2016)

- **Producer:** Société Civile Du Domaine De La Romanée-Conti
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** 100% Pinot Noir
- **Region:** Burgundy, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €4875
- **When to drink:** Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackberry, briar, red berries, cassis, red currant, dark currant, violet, iris flowers, peony, rose petal, plum, raspberry, incense, vanilla, cloves, cedar, potpourri, wet limestone, dried fruit, leather, earth, mushroom, tobacco

## About this wine

The Romanée-St-Vivant Marey-Monge 2016 from Société Civile Du Domaine De La Romanée-Conti is a Grand Cru from Vosne-Romanée, Burgundy, France, made from 100% Pinot Noir. The vineyard, historically linked to the Abbey of Saint Vivant and later the Marey-Monge family, is now owned by DRC, a producer renowned for its biodynamic and minimalist winemaking philosophy. The 2016 vintage, despite facing significant challenges from spring frosts, yielded a wine celebrated for its classical elegance and aromatic depth, a testament to the vineyard's resilience and the estate's expertise.

## Interesting facts

- The vineyard's name traces back to the Abbey of Saint Vivant, a medieval monastic owner.
- The 'Marey-Monge' designation honors a family that owned the vineyard for over a century.
- DRC has practiced organic viticulture since the 1980s and is fully biodynamic.
- Production for this vintage was limited to just 5,657 bottles.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium-plus body, fine-grained tannins, and vibrant acidity are well-suited to complement the richness of game birds and veal. Its complex aromatic profile, with notes of floral and red fruit, harmonizes beautifully with earthy ingredients like mushrooms and truffles, while the wine's structure can stand up to richer sauces.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is characterized by a profound respect for nature and tradition. Viticulture is strictly biodynamic, focusing on soil health and minimal intervention in the vineyard. In the cellar, winemaking is non-interventionist, often incorporating whole-bunch fermentation to enhance complexity. The wines are then aged exclusively in 100% new French oak barrels, a practice that imparts structure and subtle oak nuances while allowing the inherent qualities of the Pinot Noir and its terroir to remain the focus.