DRC Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache 2012

WA97: The 2012 La Tâche was picked September 25 and 27 at 21 hectoliters per hectare. It is blessed with one of those aromatic profiles that stops you in your tracks, in some ways stops time itself. There is an intensity and drive here, a mixture of red and black fruit, autumn leaves and wet limestone and later, roof tiles on a hot July afternoon. The palate is medium-bodied and nigh perfectly balanced. The tannins are filigree, the fruit extremely pure with an intense mineralité on the finish. There is an effortless quality about this La Tâche and yet is just clams up on the finish, does not quite deliver that knockout blow that so many other vintages have given. Perhaps it is saving it for later? 

VM95-98: Bright dark red. Musky strawberry, raspberry, wild spices and minerals on the pure but rather subdued nose; less showy today than the RSV or Richebourg. The palate offers outstanding imploded intensity and lift to the almost liqueur-like red berry and spice flavors. Wonderfully full without being the least bit heavy. The sugar/acid balance here is truly exhilarating. Great expanding aftertaste shows a captivating candied quality and terrific lift and cut.