Domaine de la Romanée Conti, La Tache Grand Cru 1966

robert_parker90

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

PRODUCTION: 2,354 cases. This wine is clearly in decline, but at one time it was a great La Tache, meriting a score of 96 or higher (the DRC Richebourg and Grands Echezeaux were also magnificent in 1966, but they too are heading toward their graves). The 1966 La Tache's color exhibits more depth than the 1970, with some medium ruby/garnet accompanied by considerable orange, rust, and amber at the edge. The nose remains 90+ material, offering intense, fragrant scents of saddle leather, sweet, jammy, red and black fruits, cedar, herbs (Michael Broadbent always calls this vegetal herbaceousness "beetroot"), and that game-like, smoked meat character. The flavors reveal more alcohol, glycerin, tannin, and acidity than fruit. Some tasters felt this wine was way over the hill, whereas others thought it to still be a complex, rich, enticing red Burgundy, aromatically speaking, but quickly drying out on the palate.

robert_parker99

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted at the La Tâche vertical at The Square. The La Tâche 1966 is one of those wines were composing a tasting note seems futile. How can you express such a wine in words? Well, I will try. It must be considered one of the greatest La Tâche of all time. Typically of this vineyard it is a mercurial Pinot Noir that is deceptively simple upon first acquaintance. Then you notice its unbelievable delineation as scents of dark fruit, sous bois, cigar box and an exotic hint of star anise gently unfold. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins and nigh perfect acidity. There is such brightness and vigor in the 1966, allied with a sense of authority. Over time it gains precocity and there is a daring note of cough candy surfacing unexpectedly on the finish after ten minutes. This is an astonishing La Tâche that flirts with perfection.

vinous97

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 1966 La Tâche Grand Cru is a quite sublime wine that must be the finest of the decade alongside the 1962. This is actually cut from the same cloth as the bottle shown at the La Tâche vertical in 2015. Gentle, charming and refined on the nose, it conveys a sense of grandeur befitting the vineyard. Hints of sous-bois, Montecristo cigars, pressed flowers and just a tincture of dried blood. The palate is beautifully balanced with more weight than say, the 1966 Romanée-Saint-Vivant. There is real depth, filigree tannins and a pitch-perfect line of acidity that takes your breath away. Funnily enough, just like last time I observe a light cough candy note popping up on the aftertaste. Regal. Tasted at the Romanée-Conti dinner at the Connaught Hotel.