12 bottles per lot
Details
DRC Assortment--Vintage 1996
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Romanée Conti(1)
In original wooden case, banded
"This is backward to the point of being almost inexpressive though with extended airing, subtle aromas of black fruit, hoisin, spice, underbrush, anise and violets frame understated, refined, elegant and classy flavors of incredible breed and fantastic complexity. This will live for decades and it is so young that it hasn't even begun to reveal what it will ultimately be capable of delivering. In short, opening a bottle anytime before 2010 will indeed be egregious infanticide and as the drinking window suggests, patience is required. Consistent notes." BH, Oct 1, 2006
La Tâche(3)
"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; however, I have tasted so many outstanding bottles of the '96 LT that I view these two examples as outliers." BH, Dec 9, 2006
Richebourg(2)
"A gorgeous, spicy and expressive nose of mostly black fruit aromas combines with rich, sweet and still tight medium full and quite firmly structured flavors that possess a long though slightly edgy and austere finish. This bottle showed better than the one reviewed in the big Richebourg retrospective held in October, 2001. I would not touch another bottle for at least 5 years and this easily has 20 year+ potential as it will require a long time to completely unwind. Tasted on multiple occasions with consistent notes." BH, Dec 30, 2006
Romanée St Vivant(3)
"A gorgeously spicy and seductively complex nose that is still quite primary and the fruit spectrum is almost completely black followed by tight, primary, intense, structured flavors that at the moment don't quite seem to have adequate buffering fat. This finishes with class, grace and fine length though there is a dry edginess and it is not clear that this will ever completely harmonize. A very good rather than genuinely great effort. Multiple and consistent notes." BH, Dec 19, 2005
Grands Echézeaux(1)
"Deep ruby. Still aromatically tight and backward with elegant red and black fruit aromas that are followed by middle weight, earthy, reserved flavors and a very firm but not hard finish. With 90 minutes of air, this becomes superbly elegant and spicy with outstanding precision and detail. At this point, this is an intellectual wine as it's only hinting at the ultimate potential and in good storage, it should live for decades. Moreover, given how many '96s are showing today, this has to rank among the best of the vintage. Multiple and consistent notes." BH, May 5, 2006
Echézeaux(2)
"The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti fashioned outstanding '96s and while this will not challenge the dominance of its more esteemed stable mates, it is clearly a lovely effort. The expressive nose displays lovely spice and violet aromas that offer more elegance and finesse than usual and lead to rich, sweet and moderately structured flavors supported by bright but not aggressive acidity and excellent finishing persistence. I quite like the '96 Ech and while it could be approached now with the right food, it would be better to let this slumber in the cellar for another 5 to 8 years before drinking over the following decade." BH, Oct 14, 2005
12 bottles per lot
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Romanée Conti(1)
In original wooden case, banded
"This is backward to the point of being almost inexpressive though with extended airing, subtle aromas of black fruit, hoisin, spice, underbrush, anise and violets frame understated, refined, elegant and classy flavors of incredible breed and fantastic complexity. This will live for decades and it is so young that it hasn't even begun to reveal what it will ultimately be capable of delivering. In short, opening a bottle anytime before 2010 will indeed be egregious infanticide and as the drinking window suggests, patience is required. Consistent notes." BH, Oct 1, 2006
La Tâche(3)
"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; however, I have tasted so many outstanding bottles of the '96 LT that I view these two examples as outliers." BH, Dec 9, 2006
Richebourg(2)
"A gorgeous, spicy and expressive nose of mostly black fruit aromas combines with rich, sweet and still tight medium full and quite firmly structured flavors that possess a long though slightly edgy and austere finish. This bottle showed better than the one reviewed in the big Richebourg retrospective held in October, 2001. I would not touch another bottle for at least 5 years and this easily has 20 year+ potential as it will require a long time to completely unwind. Tasted on multiple occasions with consistent notes." BH, Dec 30, 2006
Romanée St Vivant(3)
"A gorgeously spicy and seductively complex nose that is still quite primary and the fruit spectrum is almost completely black followed by tight, primary, intense, structured flavors that at the moment don't quite seem to have adequate buffering fat. This finishes with class, grace and fine length though there is a dry edginess and it is not clear that this will ever completely harmonize. A very good rather than genuinely great effort. Multiple and consistent notes." BH, Dec 19, 2005
Grands Echézeaux(1)
"Deep ruby. Still aromatically tight and backward with elegant red and black fruit aromas that are followed by middle weight, earthy, reserved flavors and a very firm but not hard finish. With 90 minutes of air, this becomes superbly elegant and spicy with outstanding precision and detail. At this point, this is an intellectual wine as it's only hinting at the ultimate potential and in good storage, it should live for decades. Moreover, given how many '96s are showing today, this has to rank among the best of the vintage. Multiple and consistent notes." BH, May 5, 2006
Echézeaux(2)
"The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti fashioned outstanding '96s and while this will not challenge the dominance of its more esteemed stable mates, it is clearly a lovely effort. The expressive nose displays lovely spice and violet aromas that offer more elegance and finesse than usual and lead to rich, sweet and moderately structured flavors supported by bright but not aggressive acidity and excellent finishing persistence. I quite like the '96 Ech and while it could be approached now with the right food, it would be better to let this slumber in the cellar for another 5 to 8 years before drinking over the following decade." BH, Oct 14, 2005
12 bottles per lot