Romanée-Saint-Vivant

Romanée-Saint-Vivant is a Grand Cru vineyard and Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) for red wine in the Côte de Nuits district of Burgundy. It lies in the commune of Vosne-Romanée, one of the most prestigious wine villages in the region, and is associated with the group of celebrated Grand Cru sites surrounding Romanée-Conti. The appellation is planted principally with Pinot noir and is divided among several proprietors rather than being controlled by a single domaine. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is the largest owner and producer associated with the vineyard, but wines from the climat may also be made by other Burgundy estates holding parcels there. The vineyard occupies approximately 9.30 hectares of production area according to the cited 2008 reference data. It borders La Grande Rue to the south, Romanée-Conti and Richebourg to the west, Premier Cru vineyards including Les Suchots to the north, and La Croix-Rameau, Les Gaudichots, and the village of Vosne-Romanée to the east. Its location places it within a compact and exceptionally valued set of vineyards whose wines are known for concentration, aromatic complexity, structure, and long aging potential. As with other Burgundy Grand Crus, the name identifies the legally delimited vineyard origin rather than a single commercial producer. The name recalls the Abbey of Saint Vivant, which held vineyards in the Vosne-Romanée area during the medieval period. The modern AOC designation was established in 1936. The land has subsequently passed through several ownership arrangements. In 1791, after property confiscations and sales associated with the French Revolution, the whole vineyard was acquired by Nicolas-Joseph Marey, the son-in-law of mathematician and surveyor Gaspard Monge. The Marey-Monge family maintained the vineyard as a monopole for more than a century before selling portions to other families and estates. The estate's ownership history became increasingly divided during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The southwestern section known as Le Clos des Quatre Journeaux was sold to the Latour family in 1898, and part of that holding was later resold. A northern portion subsequently passed to Charles Noellat. In 1966, the remaining 5.28 hectares held by the last Marey-Monge family member were leased to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, with the domaine receiving an option to buy the land if it later came onto the market. The wines made during the lease period carried the Marey-Monge name in addition to the vineyard designation. In 1988, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti purchased the property from the Neyroud family, which had inherited it from the Marey-Monge line. The transaction was financed partly through the sale and leaseback of DRC holdings in Échezeaux and parts of Grands Échezeaux, together with sales of Premier Cru and village-level vineyards in Vosne-Romanée. The appellation's regulations specify Pinot noir as the principal grape. Up to 15 percent in total of Chardonnay, Pinot blanc, and Pinot gris may technically be used as accessory varieties, although such blending is practically absent from Burgundy Grand Cru production. The rules also provide for a base maximum yield of 35 hectoliters per hectare, a minimum planting density of 9,000 vines per hectare, and a minimum required grape maturity corresponding to 11.5 percent potential alcohol. Reference data for 2008 recorded approximately 237 hectoliters of wine, equivalent to just under 32,000 bottles. Romanée-Saint-Vivant therefore functions both as a protected geographic indication and as a prestigious vineyard identity used by multiple producers.

Romanée-Saint-Vivant is a historic vineyard climat in Vosne-Romanée and a legally recognized Burgundy Grand Cru appellation. Its name refers to the Abbey of Saint Vivant, a medieval religious institution that owned vineyards in the area. The modern appellation was created in 1936, formalizing the geographic and production rules governing wines from the site. The entire vineyard was acquired in 1791 by Nicolas-Joseph Marey following the revolutionary-era sale of sequestered land. Marey was the son-in-law of Gaspard Monge, a prominent mathematician and surveyor. The Marey-Monge family retained the vineyard as a monopole for more than 100 years. Ownership began to fragment in the late nineteenth century when the family sold the southwestern parcel called Le Clos des Quatre Journeaux to the Latour family in 1898. About half of that holding was later resold. A separate northern parcel later went to Charles Noellat. In 1966, the remaining 5.28 hectares belonging to the final Marey-Monge family member were leased to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. The lease included an option giving DRC priority as a purchaser if the land were offered for sale. Wines from this period could identify the Marey-Monge connection on their labels even though DRC was farming the vines under lease. In 1988, DRC completed the purchase of the holding from the Neyroud family, which had inherited it from the Marey-Monge family. The purchase was supported by a sale-and-leaseback arrangement involving DRC's Échezeaux and Grands Échezeaux interests, as well as disposals of selected Premier Cru and village vineyards in Vosne-Romanée. Romanée-Saint-Vivant remains divided among several owners, with Domaine de la Romanée-Conti identified in the reference material as the largest. The vineyard is bordered by other famous Vosne-Romanée sites, including Romanée-Conti, Richebourg, and La Grande Rue. Its wines are red and predominantly made from Pinot noir. Although the rules permit limited use of Chardonnay, Pinot blanc, and Pinot gris, these accessory grapes are not practically used in the production of Burgundy Grand Cru wines from the site. The appellation's cited 2008 figures record 9.30 hectares in production and 237 hectoliters of wine, or slightly less than 32,000 bottles. Production is governed by Grand Cru rules including a 35-hectoliter-per-hectare base yield, minimum planting density of 9,000 vines per hectare, and minimum grape maturity of 11.5 percent potential alcohol. Because the designation is a vineyard appellation rather than a standalone winery, its wines are marketed under the names of individual proprietors and domaines that own or farm parcels within the delimited site.

• 2008

  Reference production figures recorded

  [1]Romanée-Saint-Vivanten.wikipedia.org

  The cited reference recorded 9.30 hectares in production, 237 hectoliters of wine, and just under 32,000 bottles.

• 1988

  Domaine de la Romanée-Conti purchases the leased holding

  [1]Romanée-Saint-Vivanten.wikipedia.org

  Domaine de la Romanée-Conti bought the holding from the Neyroud family, completing the transition from leasehold farming to ownership for that parcel.

• 1966

  Domaine de la Romanée-Conti begins a lease

  [1]Romanée-Saint-Vivanten.wikipedia.org

  Domaine de la Romanée-Conti leased the remaining 5.28 hectares held by the Marey-Monge family and received a first-purchase option.

• 1936

  Romanée-Saint-Vivant AOC established

  [1]Romanée-Saint-Vivanten.wikipedia.org

  The French appellation designation for Romanée-Saint-Vivant was created, defining the protected vineyard origin and its production framework.

• 1898

  Southwestern parcel sold to the Latour family

  [1]Romanée-Saint-Vivanten.wikipedia.org

  The Marey-Monge family sold the southwestern section known as Le Clos des Quatre Journeaux to the Latour family.

• 1791

  Marey acquires the complete vineyard

  [1]Romanée-Saint-Vivanten.wikipedia.org

  Nicolas-Joseph Marey purchased the entire Romanée-Saint-Vivant vineyard during the post-Revolution sale of sequestered land.

Ultra-premium Burgundy Grand Cru vineyard appellation associated with terroir-driven Pinot noir, limited production, long aging potential, and exceptional provenance.

• Red Burgundy wine · 1936

  Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru

  The appellation's principal product is red Grand Cru Burgundy made mainly from Pinot noir grown within the delimited Romanée-Saint-Vivant vineyard in Vosne-Romanée. Wines are produced by multiple proprietors and are identified by both the vineyard name and the producer's domaine. The style is associated with concentrated red-fruit and floral character, layered aromas, firm but refined structure, and the capacity to develop over extended bottle aging, although exact character varies with parcel, vintage, and producer.

• Estate-bottled Grand Cru wine

  Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Saint-Vivant

  The Romanée-Saint-Vivant bottling associated with Domaine de la Romanée-Conti comes from the domaine's substantial holding in the appellation. DRC first farmed the principal Marey-Monge holding under lease from 1966 and acquired it in 1988. Historical bottles from the lease period may reference Marey-Monge in addition to Romanée-Saint-Vivant. The wine represents one producer's expression of the Grand Cru rather than the output of the entire appellation.

1. 1Romanée-Saint-Vivanten.wikipedia.org