Reviews & Scores
At 13 years of age, the once reserved nose is starting to come out of its shell as there is plenty of the hallmark spice and floral components of a classic LT. The big and generous flavors are an exercise in contrasts as they are at once round and rich while remaining wonderfully defined and precise with an intense minerality coming to the fore, all wrapped in a linear, palate staining and explosive finish. Even though this is still very much on the way up, the palate impression is entirely harmonious and the transparency and purity of expression are something to experience. In a word, magnificent and for my taste, I would continue to cellar this for up to another decade before starting to enjoy the '06 LT from time to time.
BH96
Good colour. The nose is a bit hidden. But it is evident that this is a big step up on the Richebourg. More concentration. More volume. More depth. Above all more class and definition. Very lovely balanced fruit and an excellent long finish. Very fine plus.
DC96
Pale ruby. Tight and quite dry on end. But opened out to fabulous balance. Lovely now. But very sweet.
JR19.5/20
Lovely high-pitched aromas and flavors of raspberry, minerals, flowers and spices; this could go into a time capsule. Then juicy, pure and almost magically light on its feet, with terrific verve and spicy lift. With air, a note of smoky underbrush emerged, but in comparison to this sappy wine the 2005 is distinctly more sauvage. Finishes with sweet but firm tannins and outstanding purity and persistence.
ST95
The 2006 La Tâche Grand Cru is a vintage that I had not tasted since it was in barrel. But what a gorgeous wine it has turned out. The bouquet is so seductive, a heady mixture of red and blue fruit, pressed violets and citrus fruit that soar from the glass with amazing precision. The palate is medium-bodied with precise tannin, velvety smooth in texture with layers of red fruit laced with black cherries, Earl Grey and even a hint of liquorice. Monitoring the wine over several minutes it seems to gain depth and persistence. Beautiful.
VM96
Domaine de La Romanee-Conti's 2006 La Tâche possesses a sense of sheer density and a viscosity – by no means precluding energy – that go beyond the other wines in the Domaine's current collection. Scents of bitter-sweet floral perfume, citrus oils, white pepper, peat, and black fruit distillates pungently, almost aggressively fill the nose. The marrow and beef gelatin aspect of this Pinot is salient, but is allied on a palpably tannic palate with similarly impressive concentrated cooked black fruits, dark mushroom stock, forest floor, smoky Lapsang tea, and licorice. For grip and power, too, this surpasses its stable mates. But a glance back at the Romanee-St.-Vivant suggests that you can't have it all, and that this La Tache cannot approach that wine's finesse or quite equal its mystery. Still, I suspect this will be worth following for at least two decades
WA94
Featuring black currant, licorice and sandalwood aromas and flavors, this is very structured, powerful and intense. There's also plenty of breed and finesse, coupled with a long aftertaste.
WS97