1988 Jaffelin Romanée Saint-Vivant

Jaffelin is a negociant with a 200-year history in Burgundy. Today it is owned by Boisset Family Estates and is located in Beaune. The negociant’s cellar is located in the “chapitre,” or former monks’ residence, that was part of Beaune’s landmark, Romanesque Catholic church. Jaffelin produces the Premier Cru Mercurey Clos de Paradis, Auxey-Duress Blanc, and Les Chapitres de Jaffelin, which is sourced from parcels in Marsanny, the Hautes Cotes de Beaune and the Cote de Beaune.

Romanee-Saint-Vivant is a 23-acre Grand Cru vineyard just on the northern edge of the commune of Vosne-Romanee in the Cote de Nuits. The vineyard faces east, has a gentle incline and an elevation of 250 to 265 meters. The soil is clay and limestone. Principal producers of Romanee-Saint-Vivant are Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, with 13.23 acres; Leroy, with 2.48 acres; and Domaine de Corton-Grancey/Louis Latour, with 1.9 acres.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.