Domaine de la Romanée Conti, La Tache Grand Cru 1986

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

La Tache, made from 35-year-old vines, is a brooding infant. Splendidly perfumed (a trait shared by all their 1986 wines), it showed great depth and richness but plenty of mouthsearing tannins that suggest it needs until 1995-1996. It is quite a big, bold, dramatic red burgundy (as all this domaine's wines tend to be), but it would be a shame to drink it before 1995. This is among the few superstars of this vintage, but the 1986 is not for drinking soon-patience is most definitely required.

robert_parker88

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

PRODUCTION: 1,694 cases. This is another fully mature La Tache that requires drinking over the next 4-5 years. The medium garnet color exhibits some lightening at the edge. The wine reveals an attractive, herbal, earthy, berry fruit-scented nose. Slightly tannic, but soft and diffuse, this wine is likely to dry out by the end of the century.

robert_parker95

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Served blind by the Good Bishop Gill. Quite mature in appearance with wide tawny rim. A mature nose of autumn leaves and a little cedar, mellow and not intense. The palate must have one of the silkiest textures I have ever encountered. Beautiful balance and harmony, quite earthy and natural. A beautiful, though not amazingly complex wine that on this showing appears to be reaching the end of its plateau of maturity. Tasted April 2006.