2016 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, La Tache Grand Cru

Vinous 98

The 2016 La Tâche Grand Cru was picked on September 24–25 at 31hL/ha (the highest of the five crus). It has an utterly sublime bouquet of blackberry, briar, crushed limestone, a dash of cracked black pepper and a little oregano. This is extremely complex and displays exquisite focus, to the extent that you could just sit and nose it all day. The palate is beautifully balanced, the spicy red fruit framed by filigreed tannin that belies its backbone. There is a gentle crescendo from start to finish, though being La Tâche it retains complete control. The precision and detail in the final third are deeply impressive. Less fruit-forward than the 2015, and lightly spiced, with an insistent grip. There is a captivating sense of completeness that will ensure longevity through three or four decades. 1,814 cases produced. Tasted at Corney & Barrow’s annual in-bottle tasting in London. [Neal Martin, 06/02/2019]

Anticipated maturity: 2025-2060

Robert Parker 96-98

“The 2016 La Tâche Grand Cru was picked on 24 and 25 September at 31 hectoliters per hectare, the highest yields in this vintage. It has a profound and complex bouquet: blackberry and raspberry fruit intermingling with loam, iris and a strong estuarine influence, beautifully defined and mercurial as it always is in barrel. The palate is very refined on the entry: precise red and black fruit dissected by a killer line of acidity. This is a typically multifaceted and labyrinthine La Tâche with stunning delineation on the finish. I am absolutely fascinated to see how this turns out in bottle and hope/dream that I can find out many times over.” [Neal Martin, 29/12/2017]

Anticipated maturity: 2022-2050