3 jeroboams per lot
Details
LA TÂCHE
History
The original La Tâche vineyard owned by Louis-Philibert Joly de Bevy at the beginning of the revolution passed, by forced sale after the revolution, through Jacques Jacquinot to Claude-Frangois Viénot, a négociant in Dijon. At the turn of the 19th century, Viénot, to settle debts, sold his vines to Guillaume Basire which passed to General Liger Belair by marriage and remained in his family until 1933. For most of the 19th century, a large part of Les Gaudichots a lieu-dit adjoining La Tâche, was known in title deeds as Tâche Gaudichots or Tâche Gaudichottée. Indeed the issue remained confused until court proceedings in 1932 and the eventual establishment of the appellation contrôllée of La Tâche in September 1936. The Duvault-Blochet family, the ancestors of the de Villaines who currently co-own the property, acquired parcels of Les Gaudichots throughout the 19th Century including in 1862 a large parcel from M. Morellet and in 1866 a southern portion from M. Lausseure. Each of these vineyards was also referred to as Tâche Gaudichots. Throughout the early part of the 20th century, the basis for the appellation laws to come centered around the consistent use of local traditions, whether written or oral that would become key elements in determining the appellation d'origne.
VINTAGE 1990 *****
A superb vintage. In common with the '89 vintage, there was a hot summer, but there were important differences. The winter was unusually warm, with temperatures up to 23 degrees C in February and March, encouraging vegetation. But April to June was much cooler with a good deal of rain. Flowering was later than usual and the potentially large crop was reduced by coulure and millerandage. The summer was hot and too dry, with near drought conditions. Nevertheless, ripening was advanced and the harvest began early, on 17 September in the Côte d'Or. Grapes were small and healthy with thick skins resulting in concentration of flesh and high sugars levels, good colour extraction and tannins. I well remember Justerini & Brooks' major tasting of the youthfull '90s in January 1992. It was an eye-opener. No puny, wishy-washy, colourless wines here.
MB, Vintage Wine
Property of a Gentleman
The following were recently removed by Christie's from a temperature and humidity controlled, private, below ground level, home cellar.
La Tâche--Vintage 1990
Côte de Nuits, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
In original wooden case, banded; see illustration opposite page
"Not tasted until the mid-1990s, first at the Luzern tasting. La Tâche was in the 12th and last 'flight' which included Ch Latour, Ch Le Pin, Ch Pétrus, La Turque, Giacosa's Barbaresco Riserva Speciale and a super Syrah from Australia, Roman Bratasiuk's Clarendon Hill. It showed well: fairly deep, rich 'legs'; curiously exotic; sweet, fruit-laden, 'beetroot' Pinot grip (I did, after a struggle, identify it). Two years later, at Wagner's La Tâche vertical in Zurich: richness, extract, noting an earthy fragrance, opening up perfectly; sweet, full-body, fruit and all the component parts. Last tasted April 1998***(**) Approaching full maturity, but long life predicted." MB, Vintage Wine
3 jeroboams per lot
History
The original La Tâche vineyard owned by Louis-Philibert Joly de Bevy at the beginning of the revolution passed, by forced sale after the revolution, through Jacques Jacquinot to Claude-Frangois Viénot, a négociant in Dijon. At the turn of the 19th century, Viénot, to settle debts, sold his vines to Guillaume Basire which passed to General Liger Belair by marriage and remained in his family until 1933. For most of the 19th century, a large part of Les Gaudichots a lieu-dit adjoining La Tâche, was known in title deeds as Tâche Gaudichots or Tâche Gaudichottée. Indeed the issue remained confused until court proceedings in 1932 and the eventual establishment of the appellation contrôllée of La Tâche in September 1936. The Duvault-Blochet family, the ancestors of the de Villaines who currently co-own the property, acquired parcels of Les Gaudichots throughout the 19th Century including in 1862 a large parcel from M. Morellet and in 1866 a southern portion from M. Lausseure. Each of these vineyards was also referred to as Tâche Gaudichots. Throughout the early part of the 20th century, the basis for the appellation laws to come centered around the consistent use of local traditions, whether written or oral that would become key elements in determining the appellation d'origne.
VINTAGE 1990 *****
A superb vintage. In common with the '89 vintage, there was a hot summer, but there were important differences. The winter was unusually warm, with temperatures up to 23 degrees C in February and March, encouraging vegetation. But April to June was much cooler with a good deal of rain. Flowering was later than usual and the potentially large crop was reduced by coulure and millerandage. The summer was hot and too dry, with near drought conditions. Nevertheless, ripening was advanced and the harvest began early, on 17 September in the Côte d'Or. Grapes were small and healthy with thick skins resulting in concentration of flesh and high sugars levels, good colour extraction and tannins. I well remember Justerini & Brooks' major tasting of the youthfull '90s in January 1992. It was an eye-opener. No puny, wishy-washy, colourless wines here.
MB, Vintage Wine
Property of a Gentleman
The following were recently removed by Christie's from a temperature and humidity controlled, private, below ground level, home cellar.
La Tâche--Vintage 1990
Côte de Nuits, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
In original wooden case, banded; see illustration opposite page
"Not tasted until the mid-1990s, first at the Luzern tasting. La Tâche was in the 12th and last 'flight' which included Ch Latour, Ch Le Pin, Ch Pétrus, La Turque, Giacosa's Barbaresco Riserva Speciale and a super Syrah from Australia, Roman Bratasiuk's Clarendon Hill. It showed well: fairly deep, rich 'legs'; curiously exotic; sweet, fruit-laden, 'beetroot' Pinot grip (I did, after a struggle, identify it). Two years later, at Wagner's La Tâche vertical in Zurich: richness, extract, noting an earthy fragrance, opening up perfectly; sweet, full-body, fruit and all the component parts. Last tasted April 1998***(**) Approaching full maturity, but long life predicted." MB, Vintage Wine
3 jeroboams per lot
Provenance
Purchased on released by the current owner from a well-known and reputable local retail establishment. It has remained undisturbed in one cellar location since initial commercial release.