Domaine de la Romanée Conti, La Tache Grand Cru 1996

robert_parker98

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

A deep ruby colour with very little ageing. There is a tangible stalkiness on the nose that seems to dissipate with a few swirls of the glass. The nose is reticent at first, dark cherries, blackberry leaf, a touch of dried blood and cooked meats with blueberries and violets evolving after twenty minutes in the glass. The palate has beautiful poise, firm tannins and moving towards secondary flavours: sour cherry, dried orange peel, and a ferrous finish. I feel this La Tache is undergoing its adolescence, an “awkwardness” that will resolve itself five or six years hence. “A moody git” are the last three words I scribbled as I vainly tried to extract it out of its sulk, but I give up. Just cellar it because it will deliver! Tasted February 2008.

robert_parker97

Reviewed by: Pierre Rovani

This blockbuster wine possesses a profound nose. It exhibits awesomely ripe red and black fruits, raw meat, and Asian spices, all of which are encased in sweet toasty oak. This full-bodied, wide, thick, focused, harmonious, and intense wine releases amazingly powerful layers of candied black cherries and blackberries. It is structured, totally precise, pure, and possesses an exceptionally long finish loaded with abundant sweet tannins. It will require patience. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661.

robert_parker100

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

A limpid crimson/ruby core. The nose explodes from the glass and like the Romanee-Conti, the vanillary new oak is upfront this year, but effortlessly well-integrated into the layers of blackcherry fruit mixed with roasted herbs and truffle. Extremely deep and complex on the palate with more sturdy tannins than the previous year. On the finish: damsons and a touch of leather. A heavenly finish that goes on and on. Certainly one of the finest La Tache that I have had the pleasure to taste. Tasted February 1999.

vinous95

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Brilliant ruby-red. Ineffable liqueur-like perfume combines blackberry, black raspberry, cassis, truffle and tar. Fat, sweet and dense but quite closed in the mouth; not yet showing La Tache's typical licorice component. But a complete wine with superb structure and a very, very long and subtle aftertaste that builds slowly and saturates the olfactories.

vinous96

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Excellent ruby-red color. Initially reticent black fruit nose opened to reveal notes of violet, vanilla and char. Rather unforthcoming in the mouth, but very intensely flavored, pure and penetrating. Superb sweetness is already apparent. Very firm finish, with tannins coating the entire mouth. Will require at least six to eight years of patience.