1 dozen bottles per lot
Details
LA TACHE
The La Tâche vineyard is wholly-owned by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC). DRC, one of the world's most respected producers who owns the two most prestigious monopole vineyards (the other being Romanée-Conti) in addition to vines in other top
vineyards. The simple mention of the venerable DRC in general and La Tâche and Romanée-Conti more specifically always elicits an ebullient response - memories are brought to life and experiences retold that truly express how drinking these wines can transcend one to another world. They are in a word, astonishing - a clear tribute to balance, finesse and refinement. Aubert de Villaine, co-owner of DRC, believes that "nothing is more difficult than to act simply: the ideal is to do nothing."
He certainly takes this approach in the vineyard and with his very traditional approach to winemaking. De Villaine eschews chemical treatments and employs the services of agronomist Claude Bougignon for continued analysis of his vineyards. Although DRC is not a bonafide biodynamic vineyard, a portion of La Tâche and Grands Echézeaux adhere to these principals. They follow the lunar calendar and institute special preparations for the soil. Since 1986, DRC has implemented organic viticulture. Grapes are not de-stalked and cuvaison typically lasts thirty days with fermentation completed at relatively low temperatures. All wines are matured in 100 new oak from the Trongais forest and delivered to their own coopers. The wine is un-filtered and any racking done is by gravity flow.
It is incredibly difficult not to compare the monopole vineyards of La Tâche and Romané e-Conti. La Tâche (6.06 hectares) is more than three times larger than that of Romanée-Conti (1.81 hectares) and produces 1,800 cases on average per vintage relative to the miniscule 450 cases of Romanée-Conti. This was not always the case as part of what is now La Tâche was originally labelled as Les Gaudichots.
La Tâche--Vintage 1996
Côte de Nuits, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
In original wooden case, banded
"("it's quite possible that the '96 will be the longest lived of any La Tâche produced in many years" - AdV). Fantastically pure with the classic spice box, hoisin and soy nose followed by big, rich, very structured flavors that display notes of earth, leather and tea. The tannins are big, ripe and are completely buffered by the sap with length that is simply phenomenal. This remains completely primary in character and seems not to have budged at all since it was bottled. A genuinely great vintage for La Tâche that is softer in the mouth than the '96 Grands Ech and this should improve for another decade and last for 50 years. Very classy juice. Note: while it's happened only twice, the '96 can be intensely vegetal on the nose and not exhibit the purity that the wine is justifiably famous for." BH, September 9, 2005
1 dozen bottles per lot
The La Tâche vineyard is wholly-owned by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC). DRC, one of the world's most respected producers who owns the two most prestigious monopole vineyards (the other being Romanée-Conti) in addition to vines in other top
vineyards. The simple mention of the venerable DRC in general and La Tâche and Romanée-Conti more specifically always elicits an ebullient response - memories are brought to life and experiences retold that truly express how drinking these wines can transcend one to another world. They are in a word, astonishing - a clear tribute to balance, finesse and refinement. Aubert de Villaine, co-owner of DRC, believes that "nothing is more difficult than to act simply: the ideal is to do nothing."
He certainly takes this approach in the vineyard and with his very traditional approach to winemaking. De Villaine eschews chemical treatments and employs the services of agronomist Claude Bougignon for continued analysis of his vineyards. Although DRC is not a bonafide biodynamic vineyard, a portion of La Tâche and Grands Echézeaux adhere to these principals. They follow the lunar calendar and institute special preparations for the soil. Since 1986, DRC has implemented organic viticulture. Grapes are not de-stalked and cuvaison typically lasts thirty days with fermentation completed at relatively low temperatures. All wines are matured in 100 new oak from the Trongais forest and delivered to their own coopers. The wine is un-filtered and any racking done is by gravity flow.
It is incredibly difficult not to compare the monopole vineyards of La Tâche and Romané e-Conti. La Tâche (6.06 hectares) is more than three times larger than that of Romanée-Conti (1.81 hectares) and produces 1,800 cases on average per vintage relative to the miniscule 450 cases of Romanée-Conti. This was not always the case as part of what is now La Tâche was originally labelled as Les Gaudichots.
La Tâche--Vintage 1996
Côte de Nuits, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
In original wooden case, banded
"("it's quite possible that the '96 will be the longest lived of any La Tâche produced in many years" - AdV). Fantastically pure with the classic spice box, hoisin and soy nose followed by big, rich, very structured flavors that display notes of earth, leather and tea. The tannins are big, ripe and are completely buffered by the sap with length that is simply phenomenal. This remains completely primary in character and seems not to have budged at all since it was bottled. A genuinely great vintage for La Tâche that is softer in the mouth than the '96 Grands Ech and this should improve for another decade and last for 50 years. Very classy juice. Note: while it's happened only twice, the '96 can be intensely vegetal on the nose and not exhibit the purity that the wine is justifiably famous for." BH, September 9, 2005
1 dozen bottles per lot