1996 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, DRC, La Tache Grand Cru, Bottle (750ml)

NM98 "A deep ruby colour with very little ageing. There is a tangible stalkiness on the nose that seems to dissipate with a few swirls of the glass. The nose is reticent at first, dark cherries, blackberry leaf, a touch of dried blood and cooked meats with blueberries and violets evolving after twenty minutes in the glass. The palate has beautiful poise, firm tannins and moving towards secondary flavours: sour cherry, dried orange peel, and a ferrous finish. I feel this La Tache is undergoing its adolescence, an “awkwardness” that will resolve itself five or six years hence. “A moody git” are the last three words I scribbled as I vainly tried to extract it out of its sulk, but I give up. Just cellar it because it will deliver! Tasted February 2008." NM for WJ Dec 1999

BH96 "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 in my experience, 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." AM for BH Jan 2012

WS96 "Deep color. Very pure fruit confit aromas of cassis and blackberry. A rich La Tâche, with a combination of ripeness and high acidity. It's up front in its appeal today, with a great nose and tight finish.--La Tâche non-blind vertical. Best from 2015 through 2040." BS for WS Jun 2006