I am sure it is heresy, but my first experience with DRC was not good. The wine was not balanced - tart and overpowering cherry. Maybe it needed to decant longer or maybe I just don’t have the right palate. I will hopefully get another swing at DRC, but I was disappointed with this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dog Year Wines (Yan, National Gallery, Singapore): Not the strongest La Tache by any stretch of the imagination, but this was still very pleasurable. I really liked this nose - a touch of honey and dried dates, sweet florals, shades of wood spice, a hint of leafiness in there, but otherwise this was just a lovely, sweet La Tache nose. The palate lagged behind somewhat unfortunately. This was a true 1994, with a rather leaner, less voluptuous feel than one would expect for a La Tache. There was still Grand Cru weight and persistence to it though, with attractive flavours of red cherries and sweet blueberries, then hints of wood spice and wildflowers, all trailing away into a nicely fresh finish. One could sense the structural ribs of the wine sticking out somewhat - with citrusy acidity and a chew of fine but firm tannins - but this was otherwise quite pleasant. About time to drink up though.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Acker 2019/11 (Valcluse): 01924/18705. In complete honesty not giving much. Still very driven by terroir but light in all aspects compared to usual performances. NR
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind (Chicago, IL): Tasted double blind. Both nose and palate show very good spice with good red fruit, nicely mature. Firm tannins slightly pronounced. Much better than another bottle from a year ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Burg Dinner with Friends...and LaTache (RPM Italian - Chicago IL): Very attractive aromatic start with forward red fruit and great spicebox combination that is classically Vosne, and very La Tâche. Started similarly on palate, a bit more austere, but ended with a slightly bitter element that didn't dissipate over several hours in glass and probably will never fully go away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
One problem to drink this wine is... we do need at least 20 years old La Tache.
1994 is still young and just begin to be ready to drink. Hints of coffee and dark fruits, then becomes redberry fruits. The wine from the weak vintage shows the talent of the wine-maker. Wine has changed every 15-20 minutes, no problem cause we are only two drinking it, we have plenty of time tonight. The wine also takes us walk along the village of Vosne-Romanee to feel all the terroir. This 1994 almost has no typical scent of Tache, it appears just a very short after 2 hours of drinking and gone so we are continued enjoying the discovery to feel Romanee St. Vivant, Richebourg etc. Even it has some greeny or watery some of the time but it's really a nice ride.
The balance was not good but it's charming to feel how the rain and the sun give things to the terroir. I enjoy it very much. The 1994 is compact and strong while 1992 is elegant and aggressive. (sometimes)
Anyway. La Tache is La Tache, when we drink it slowly, we all know that this is the best wine of the world indeed.
*** 1993 is stable, very good but nothing much and 1994 is more enjoyable so 1993 is good for tasting but 1994 is great for drinking a whole bottle***
Drink now - 2030.............................92-95++/100...................................
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Scott M. Dinner Party (Home): Not as good as my last bottle. This was a nice burgundy with good character and decent fruit, but certainly not up to expectations for such as august wine. Full crimson red color. Nice nose of brown sugar and red cherry with just a hint of the asian spices. A bit pale on the palate but actually picked up some weight with time in the glass. Some nice secondary character here as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At River Tavern, Chester, CT. Suzanne, our waitress offered me a glass that the 2 gentlemen who were enjoying a grand BYO lunch left behind(The other vin was 98 Beaucastel). My reaction echoes the more recent comments below. Tonight at dinner I brought an 02 Dumol Ryan V PN, which was a world above this wine in finesse, elegance and complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Started off with a solid upfront meatiness and tart fruit. Chervil notes tickle the middle and finish. Plums and cherries, some peaty earth. At the peak, a nice integration overcomes the lack of strength of these elements. All too quickly developed 'lemon pledge' elements and unpleasant acids. A weak vintage, but fell off faster and worse than I had expected.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Some Cote de Nuits with Andrew (Columbus, OH): Initially a burst of classic soy notes that quickly faded to a tart, austere black cherry profile characteristic of the vintage. Over ~ 3 hours some underbrush and additional depth, but with it some off-putting "Lemon Pledge" notes that only picked up as the wine fell apart. Typical DRC stemmy structure that cuts off the fruit early in this case. Evolved quicker than expected. Over the best period around a half-hour to hour after opening a feminine wine showing plenty of pedigree and class, only diluted from the vintage and hiding under a wall of structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red appearance. Strong scents of meat and dried leaves coming out of the glass. Fat, sweet and delightful in the mouth with plenty of width, and a good, steely backbone. Excellent complexity and concentration with good detail. The aftertaste was pleasantly sweet and smooth with good length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking perfectly, not tannic at all and no greenness or herbaciousness - WS is crazy. A rich, medium-bodied pinot. Lovely complexity and reflective terrior (7/00)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Visit to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (Burgundy, France): Great colour again - but a more solid wine than the Richebourg. Aromas a bit subdued - but suggesting spices and dark fruits. Extremely powerful wine, but it is nontheless quite supple on the palate. A real mouthful - fat and intense - with a lot of richness. A bit backward, but showing great potential for the longer term. Everything in place, but it is just awakening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
11/13/2021 - apg23 wrote: 89 Points
I am sure it is heresy, but my first experience with DRC was not good. The wine was not balanced - tart and overpowering cherry. Maybe it needed to decant longer or maybe I just don’t have the right palate. I will hopefully get another swing at DRC, but I was disappointed with this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2020 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
Dog Year Wines (Yan, National Gallery, Singapore): Not the strongest La Tache by any stretch of the imagination, but this was still very pleasurable. I really liked this nose - a touch of honey and dried dates, sweet florals, shades of wood spice, a hint of leafiness in there, but otherwise this was just a lovely, sweet La Tache nose. The palate lagged behind somewhat unfortunately. This was a true 1994, with a rather leaner, less voluptuous feel than one would expect for a La Tache. There was still Grand Cru weight and persistence to it though, with attractive flavours of red cherries and sweet blueberries, then hints of wood spice and wildflowers, all trailing away into a nicely fresh finish. One could sense the structural ribs of the wine sticking out somewhat - with citrusy acidity and a chew of fine but firm tannins - but this was otherwise quite pleasant. About time to drink up though.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2019 - hprphf wrote:
Acker 2019/11 (Valcluse): 01924/18705. In complete honesty not giving much. Still very driven by terroir but light in all aspects compared to usual performances. NR
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2017 - steinersing wrote: 91 Points
Good, soft, silky material. Nose quite timid, after 2 hours getting a bit more interesting with hints of hoisin and roses.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind (Chicago, IL): Tasted double blind. Both nose and palate show very good spice with good red fruit, nicely mature. Firm tannins slightly pronounced. Much better than another bottle from a year ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Burg Dinner with Friends...and LaTache (RPM Italian - Chicago IL): Very attractive aromatic start with forward red fruit and great spicebox combination that is classically Vosne, and very La Tâche. Started similarly on palate, a bit more austere, but ended with a slightly bitter element that didn't dissipate over several hours in glass and probably will never fully go away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2011 - noppakit s. wrote: 92 Points
One problem to drink this wine is... we do need at least 20 years old La Tache.
1994 is still young and just begin to be ready to drink. Hints of coffee and dark fruits, then becomes redberry fruits. The wine from the weak vintage shows the talent of the wine-maker. Wine has changed every 15-20 minutes, no problem cause we are only two drinking it, we have plenty of time tonight. The wine also takes us walk along the village of Vosne-Romanee to feel all the terroir. This 1994 almost has no typical scent of Tache, it appears just a very short after 2 hours of drinking and gone so we are continued enjoying the discovery to feel Romanee St. Vivant, Richebourg etc. Even it has some greeny or watery some of the time but it's really a nice ride.
The balance was not good but it's charming to feel how the rain and the sun give things to the terroir. I enjoy it very much. The 1994 is compact and strong while 1992 is elegant and aggressive. (sometimes)
Anyway. La Tache is La Tache, when we drink it slowly, we all know that this is the best wine of the world indeed.
*** 1993 is stable, very good but nothing much and 1994 is more enjoyable so 1993 is good for tasting but 1994 is great for drinking a whole bottle***
Drink now - 2030.............................92-95++/100...................................
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2008 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
Scott M. Dinner Party (Home): Not as good as my last bottle. This was a nice burgundy with good character and decent fruit, but certainly not up to expectations for such as august wine. Full crimson red color. Nice nose of brown sugar and red cherry with just a hint of the asian spices. A bit pale on the palate but actually picked up some weight with time in the glass. Some nice secondary character here as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2007 - goofy Yno wrote: 87 Points
soy, blackberry. shut down? with tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2007 - kstoddard wrote:
G7 (Sea Saw, Scottsdale): Raspberry with notes of bell pepper. Gripping tannins. Bitter finish. Not very pleasant to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2007 - jivey wrote: 91 Points
Black cherry spice and buttery nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2007 - mattiasjansson wrote: 88 Points
DRC Tasting with Dave Nerland (Sea Saw, Scottsdale, AZ): Cloudy - lots of sediment. Ok fruit but a bit flat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2006 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 88 Points
At River Tavern, Chester, CT. Suzanne, our waitress offered me a glass that the 2 gentlemen who were enjoying a grand BYO lunch left behind(The other vin was 98 Beaucastel). My reaction echoes the more recent comments below. Tonight at dinner I brought an 02 Dumol Ryan V PN, which was a world above this wine in finesse, elegance and complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2006 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Started off with a solid upfront meatiness and tart fruit. Chervil notes tickle the middle and finish. Plums and cherries, some peaty earth. At the peak, a nice integration overcomes the lack of strength of these elements. All too quickly developed 'lemon pledge' elements and unpleasant acids. A weak vintage, but fell off faster and worse than I had expected.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2006 - psmith wrote: 87 Points
Some Cote de Nuits with Andrew (Columbus, OH): Initially a burst of classic soy notes that quickly faded to a tart, austere black cherry profile characteristic of the vintage. Over ~ 3 hours some underbrush and additional depth, but with it some off-putting "Lemon Pledge" notes that only picked up as the wine fell apart. Typical DRC stemmy structure that cuts off the fruit early in this case. Evolved quicker than expected. Over the best period around a half-hour to hour after opening a feminine wine showing plenty of pedigree and class, only diluted from the vintage and hiding under a wall of structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2004 - Joe Belmaati wrote: 93 Points
Dark red appearance. Strong scents of meat and dried leaves coming out of the glass. Fat, sweet and delightful in the mouth with plenty of width, and a good, steely backbone. Excellent complexity and concentration with good detail. The aftertaste was pleasantly sweet and smooth with good length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2000 - winefool wrote: 93 Points
Drinking perfectly, not tannic at all and no greenness or herbaciousness - WS is crazy. A rich, medium-bodied pinot. Lovely complexity and reflective terrior (7/00)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/1996 - Hank Gillespie wrote:
Visit to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (Burgundy, France): Great colour again - but a more solid wine than the Richebourg. Aromas a bit subdued - but suggesting spices and dark fruits. Extremely powerful wine, but it is nontheless quite supple on the palate. A real mouthful - fat and intense - with a lot of richness. A bit backward, but showing great potential for the longer term. Everything in place, but it is just awakening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment