| | Was lucky enough to join the vertical tasting of 18 vintages of La Tâche but unfortunately enough that I was not feeling well that night that by the last flight I couldn't barely drink/taste anything.
Flight 1
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 2002
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 2005
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 2009
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 2010
Flight 2
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 1998
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 1999
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 2000
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 2001
Flight 3
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 1993
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 1995
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 1996
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 1997
Flight 4
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 1990
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 1991
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 1992
Flight 5
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 1985
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 1986
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 1988 - 2010 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
Very approachable from the get-go with the classic red fruits, violet/floral notes. Very integrated and composed on the nose and in the mouth. The notes of stem is obvious.
This is in the first flight but lasted through the entire 5hr of tasting with no sign of fading. A gorgeous gorgeous wine!
It was a very interesting style contrast and hard pick for me between this and 09 which was fattier, flamboyant in your face style. (97 pts.)
- 2009 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
Interesting when tasting this and 10 side by side. This is evidentaly riper notes of black fruit, much darker in color. Different than its sister which was instant on, it took about 30 mins to gain more weight and depth in the glass. Tea and leather notes started to show up over time.
As alleged it was fat, powerful and flamboyant for both the nose but more so on the palate.
This wine also lasted the entire 5-hr tasting event, an incredible wine! (97 pts.)
- 2005 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
10 was classic, composed, and 09 was flamboyant with depth.
05 is an inch above both of them. It is 10's composure plus the power of 09 with even more layers in the mouth.
For me, it was my fav of the first flight (a super strong flight with 02, 05, 09 and 10) and a contender for the WTON. (98 pts.)
- 2002 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
This was the most elusive of the first flight. It came up a little muted on the nose after about 15-30mins, the red-fruit notes with hints of grass (not unpleasant ones) started to show up. It has apparently the lightest body and highest acidity than the rest of the flight.
After 1 hr or so, the wine gained significantly more depth and weight in the glass. It also started to have a mint notes mixed with, teabag, spice and mushroom.
It certainly has the most tertiary notes than rest of its sisters in the flight and after 2 hours in, the most enjoyable one to have. (96 pts.)
- 2000 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
Forward with red fruit notes, linear and great finish.
Yet I enjoyed 2001 a little more for its depth and structure on the palate. (94 pts.)
- 2001 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
A little funky notes on the start but dispersed quickly after. Fresh strawberry notes, clean, a similar restrained figure as 2010, surprisingly has more depth than 2000 of the same flight. It is a beautiful wine! (95 pts.)
- 1999 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
This is the wine that blew my mind off this entire night! It started with full-on ripe black fruits with kaleidoscopic of mints, mushroom, mints, leather. In the mouth, it is strikingly muscular occupying the entire palate with layers of fruits, wood and leather slowly unfolding themselves. Exceptionally long finish that lasted for minutes.
It was a perfect wine for me and a knock on my head reminding myself why I love drinking wines.
Unfortunately though like most beautiful fireworks, this wine doesn't last long. It faded away quickly in about 1-hr in the glass. I regret deeply that I didn't drink all of the wine in time before it turned pumpkins. The score only reflects that unforgettable 30 mins of pinnacle. (99 pts.)
- 1998 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
Much more developed than 99/00/01 of this flight. Notes of cooked fruit, and tea. Clean finish. 92-93. (92 pts.)
- 1997 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
Very forward with candy notes and red fruits. On the palate it dries out significantly. 91-92
We joked this is a $4000 beaujolais (I am sorry but I couldn't help it).
This is the least of my fav of entire night (for all the glasses I was able to taste) (91 pts.)
- 1996 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
Very vintage typical, restrained red fruit with green notes. Similar to 02 but lacks the depth and structure. Not my style, 92-94 (93 pts.)
- 1995 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
Similarly developed as 98, cooked fruits, tea notes. It is a little more structured however. There is a little too much (unintegrated) tannin on the palate and it dries out. Not as enjoyable as 96. 92-93. (92 pts.)
- 1993 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
No notes, only score 93-95. (94 pts.)
- 1992 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
No notes, only score 92-94. (93 pts.)
- 1991 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
No notes, only score 94-95. (94 pts.)
- 1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
No notes, only score 93-94. (93 pts.)
- 1988 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
muted on the start, no score
- 1986 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
Strawberry and green notes. no score.
- 1985 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru
No notes or score.
In terms of the style, I definitely enjoyed most of the modern vintages (2000+). The use of stem is evident.
As everyone knows vintage for Burgundy matters a lot. La Tâche is no exception to that. For old ages, I'd definitely only go after the ones confirmed (a selected few). |
