A JEROBOAM OF ONE OF MICHAEL BROADBENT'S SIX-STAR WINES - LA TACHE 1962 IN INCREDIBLE CONDITION
La Tâche--Vintage 1962
1 jeroboam 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-François 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 1962 *****
Unquestionably a superior vintage to 1961 but I believe this was not fully recognized at the time - the trade complained that the prices were at the level of the '61s. Among other virtues (this is very subjective), 1962 harbours one of my are 6-star assessments: La Tâche. There was a cool spring with good flowering conditions in June Followed by a fair July, fine and warm August with some welcome rain in September. The belated harvest of sound, fully ripe grapes began on 8 October. Fairly understandably, not many of these wines are seen these days, but they are well worth looking out for. MB
Property of an extremely knowledgeable West Coast Collector
Removed by Christie's from a temperature controlled professional storage facility.
La Tâche--Vintage 1962
Côte de Nuits, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Number 00230
Level: 5cm, wax capsule intact
"Most recently, at a dinner party at home: level 4cm below cork; medium-deep, open, fully mature colour; 'scented beetroot' nose; rich, fabulous, perfection. Among my guests were Len Evans who rightly prides himself on his palate and (Lord) Rudolf Russell. All the wines were served blind-they included a typically idiosyncratic '49 Château-Calon, L Latour's '85 Corton-Charlemagne, the great '78 Barca Velha, my favourite '85 Ch Cheval Blanc and '35 Taylor. To Len's chagrin, he was trounced every time by Rudolph and had to resort to suggesting that a duke's son had an unfair flying start, being brought up with this class of wine! Last tasted at our London flat, June 2000 ****** (6 stars)" MB, Vintage Wine
1 jeroboam 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-François 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 1962 *****
Unquestionably a superior vintage to 1961 but I believe this was not fully recognized at the time - the trade complained that the prices were at the level of the '61s. Among other virtues (this is very subjective), 1962 harbours one of my are 6-star assessments: La Tâche. There was a cool spring with good flowering conditions in June Followed by a fair July, fine and warm August with some welcome rain in September. The belated harvest of sound, fully ripe grapes began on 8 October. Fairly understandably, not many of these wines are seen these days, but they are well worth looking out for. MB
Property of an extremely knowledgeable West Coast Collector
Removed by Christie's from a temperature controlled professional storage facility.
La Tâche--Vintage 1962
Côte de Nuits, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Number 00230
Level: 5cm, wax capsule intact
"Most recently, at a dinner party at home: level 4cm below cork; medium-deep, open, fully mature colour; 'scented beetroot' nose; rich, fabulous, perfection. Among my guests were Len Evans who rightly prides himself on his palate and (Lord) Rudolf Russell. All the wines were served blind-they included a typically idiosyncratic '49 Château-Calon, L Latour's '85 Corton-Charlemagne, the great '78 Barca Velha, my favourite '85 Ch Cheval Blanc and '35 Taylor. To Len's chagrin, he was trounced every time by Rudolph and had to resort to suggesting that a duke's son had an unfair flying start, being brought up with this class of wine! Last tasted at our London flat, June 2000 ****** (6 stars)" MB, Vintage Wine
1 jeroboam per lot
Provenance
Provenance:
Purchased on release by a private American collector
Acquired by the current owner from the above