2006 La Tache
By Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
2006 La Tache from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Grand Cru, Burgundy, France
The esteemed 2006 vintage of La Tache from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti stands as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of great Burgundy terroirs in the face of climatic whims. The prelude to harvest that year was a mosaic of weather variances, with a tumultuous spring followed by a torrid July and an August marked by invigorating coolness and celestial showers; conditions that could've spelled havoc but ultimately contributed to the complexity of the vintage.
Exemplary Harvest, Exceptional Outcome
The carefully calibrated September days allowed for an impeccable harvest, yielding berries that possessed both a punctilious ripeness and a vibrant acidity. Therein lies the 2006 La Tache's singularity—flaunting a profile that keeps the aficionado poised on the edge between voluptuousness and structure. This is orchestration at its zenith; a symphony with nuance.
Signature Style, Distinguished Vintage
When one examines the tapestry of flavours this vintage weaves—dark cherry commingling with whispers of truffle, a hint of sous-bois, and the faintest zephyr of damp rose petal—the wine becomes not just a beverage but a portal to the soils of La Tache itself. The palate is rewarded with textural elegance; silken tannins that grip without audacity, supporting a finish that resonates with near-mystical persistence.
For fine wine investors seeking to enrich their portfolios, the 2006 La Tache from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti emerges as an asset swathed in enigma yet grounded by its potential for longevity and appreciation. Its nuance and grace are emblematic of a genuinely captivating investment opportunity—an expressive memento from a rollercoaster season spun into vinous gold by skillful artisans.
Harmonious Complexity: Investment Worthiness Embodied
In conclusion, this 2006 vintage offers not merely an alluring complexity ideal for discerning collectors; it proffers solidity in wine investment terms. Amidst oscillating market trends, this La Tache continues to thrive as a covetable piece, underscored by both rarity and remarkable taste profile—a beacon for those who perceive the richness of wines beyond mere liquidity.
Market price (HKD)
HK$501,840.00
12x75cl
Highest score
94
POP score
3750
Scores and tasting notes
Domaine de La Romanee-Conti's 2006 La Tache 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. The Domaine de La Romanee-Conti harvested from the 20th-25th of September (commencing with Richebourg) and subjected the crop to rigorous sorting. Understandably, the viticultural meticulousness at this estate as well as its team of some 60 highly-skilled and –motivated pickers paid dividends in the context of a challenging vintage. Director Aubert de Villaine and cellarmaster Bernard Noblet vinified their 2006s with a lesser share of stems and whole clusters, and exposed them to new wood for a shorter period (thereafter racking into older barrels) than the corresponding 2005s. Importer: Wilson-Daniels, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-9661
David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate, 21 December 2009