Domaine de la Romanée Conti, La Tache Grand Cru 1988

robert_parker97

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The 1988 La Tache has the monumental, telltale bouquet of overripe, gamey, exotic fruit, oriental spices, and flavors that simply overwhelm. It is clearly a fabulous wine with extraordinary concentration and presence on the palate and a mind blowing, utterly compelling finish. Fortunately, given the large production in 1988, there are 1,806 cases to be allocated around the world. My notes show an anticipated maturity date of 1995-2015. It is an incredible wine.. The prices for the wines of the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti may be exorbitant but the quality of the wines produced in the eighties is truly remarkable. The 1988s are celestial wines selling at stratospheric prices. The 1988 production was twice what it was in 1987, but the same as in 1985. The 1988s are fuller-bodied, deeper, more concentrated wines than the superb 1987s, and will need some time in the cellar to shed their generous amounts of tannin. The only vintage they can be favorably compared with is the 1985 vintage, and the 1985s were a great deal more forward and flattering to taste when young. There is more depth in the 1988s than in the 1986s or even the superb 1980s (which turned out to be the finest wines made in that underrated vintage).

robert_parker88

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

PRODUCTION: 1,678 cases. This wine was spectacular from cask, but tasting it three times from bottle has been a bewildering experience. The color is a disturbingly light to medium ruby. The wine's aromatics exhibit oak, smoke, and vanilla, but little fruit. No amount of coaxing or breathing enhances the wine's bouquet, which appears to crack up with exposure to air. There is moderately high tannin and good concentration, as well as a nasty toughness, suggesting a deficiency in flesh, weight, and extraction. Although it was impressive young, it now appears to be a lightweight La Tache. Will it turn around?

robert_parker86

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The 1988 La Tache reveals a moderately interesting bouquet of Asian spices, dried herbs, earth, and sweet red and black fruits. However, it is surprisingly shallow, medium-bodied, and short on the palate.