2012 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Monopole Grand Cru
| Type of Wine | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | |
| Appellation | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (13%) |
| Drink window | 2020 - 2060 |
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Description
The 2012 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche Monopole Grand Cru is one of the most prestigious and coveted wines in the world. La Tâche is a monopole, meaning the vineyard is wholly owned by the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC), and it is considered one of the crown jewels of Burgundy. La Tâche is a grand cru vineyard in the Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, located in the commune of Vosne-Romanée and this is of course a 100% Pinot Noir, the signature grape of the region.
2012 was a challenging but very good vintage in Burgundy. The season was marked by difficult weather conditions: Hail, frost, and disease pressure severely limited yields. Due to these challenges, yields in 2012 were exceptionally low, resulting in a very concentrated and powerful wine. The grapes that were harvested were of high quality with a perfect balance between sugar and acidity. The scarcity and excellent quality make 2012 unique and highly sought after.
Tasting notes:
- Colour : Deep ruby red with beautiful clarity.
- Nose : Aromas of ripe red berries such as cherries and raspberries, complemented by notes of herbs, flowers (violets and roses), truffle and subtle mineral accents.
- Taste : Complex and layered with a perfect balance of ripe fruit, fresh acidity and silky tannins. The wine has a remarkable depth and length, with an almost ethereal texture.
- Finish : Exceptionally long and refined, with mineral and earthy notes beautifully interwoven with the fruit.
Storage potential:
This wine has enormous aging potential. Although it can be impressive when young, it will continue to develop in the bottle over the next 20 to 30 years (or more), developing more secondary and tertiary aromas such as earthy and smoky notes.
About La Tâche
La Tâche, located in Vosne-Romanée, is a cru particularly appreciated by professionals and wine lovers for its consistency, continuity and compactness. This vineyard, which extends in the heights and depths of the Côte de Nuits, has a rich diversity of soil types. This may explain the complexity and power of its wine. La Tâche is one of the two Monopole of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. The vineyard has had various owners over the years, including illustrious names such as Jean-Baptiste Le Goux de la Berchère in the 16th century and later the Liger-Belair family. Due to various circumstances, it was sold in 1933 to the owners of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
A major event in the history of the vineyard was the merger of La Tâche and the neighbouring Les Gaudichots, which was legally authorised by a court ruling in 1932. The vineyard is located between 250 and 300 metres above sea level and has a variety of soil types, varying in depth and composition. To combat erosion, measures have been taken, such as the construction of a concrete basin in 1985.
About Le Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Le Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) is a legendary French winery located in Burgundy. The wines of Le Domaine de la Romanée-Conti are a unique opportunity to invest in sublime Burgundy. The wines are very scarce and available through a very limited number of points of sale.
Specifications
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Bourgogne |
| Appellation | Vosne-Romanée |
| Icons | Icon France |
| Winery | Domaine de la Romanee-Conti |
| Grape | Pinot Noir |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Drinking as of | 2020 |
| Drinking till | 2060 |
| Alcohol % | 13 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 97 |
| Vinous rating | 97 |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 97
Reviewed by:
Neal Martin
Release Price:
NA
Drink Date:
2018 - 2050
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? Readers should note that there is just 1,113 cases produced rather than the usual 1,870.
Published: Feb 28, 2015
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
97
Drinking Window
2027 - 2062
From: Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival 2015 (Mar 2016)
A wine of almost raw, animal power, the 2012 La Tâche possesses stunning depth and intensity. Savory, floral and red citrus notes are pushed forward in an unusually virile, imposing La Tâche. Readers will have to be patient here, which will not surprise anyone familiar with the vintage. Still, I am taken aback by the wine’s embryonic youthfulness.
- By Antonio Galloni on October 2015
I was thrilled to be a part of the 11th Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival, held this past fall in Toronto. The weekend long program of seminars, tastings and dinners hosted by an incredible collection of luminaries from the worlds of wine and food helped raise $5.5m for the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine, one of the world’s leading research centers focused on stem cell research. These two smaller events within Grand Cru showcased the wines of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and brought in donations of $1m.
97
Drinking Window
2032 - 2062
From: The 2013 & 2012 Red Burgundies (Apr 2015)
There isn't much to say about the 2012 La Tâche because it is nearly as complete as a young wine can possibly be. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. In 2012 it is the wine's extraordinary textural finesse and huge towering structure that stand out. The classic La Tâche floral and savory notes are all amped up by the richness and overall intensity of the year.
- By Antonio Galloni on November 2014
Aubert de Villaine compared the domaine's 2012s to the 1991s, when I tasted the finished wines with him at the estate in November 2014. To be sure, though, the 2012s have come a long way since they were bottled. A year ago, the wines showed a palpable sense of raw power from tiny yields and late malos. Today, the wines are much more polished. At this stage, the 2012s can be divided into two groups; wines that are intensely tannic (Corton, Grands-Échézeaux, Romanée St.-Vivant and Romanée-Conti), and others where the concentration of fruit stands out above all else (Échézeaux, Richebourg and, to a lesser extent, La Tâche).
97
Drinking Window
2029 - 2046
From: The 2012 Red Burgundies from Bottle (Mar 2015)
Bright, dark red. Spellbinding perfume combines red berries, cherry, Oriental spices, rose petal, licorice, pepper and minerals. Perfectly balanced from the outset, showing outstanding clarity and lift, not to mention superb sappy depth, to its multifaceted red fruit, mineral, spice and floral flavors. The combination of sweetness and grip is extraordinary, as is the wine's expanding, mounting aftertaste. Will this beauty ever go into a truly sullen stage? Probably.
- By Stephen Tanzer on November 2014
I tasted with Cellarmaster Bernard Noblet in November, so I was not able to ask Aubert de Villaine if he still prefers the estate's 2012s to its 2010s. In November of 2013, de Villaine ventured the opinion that the '12s have "more energy and riper tannins" than the earlier year. Part of that energy no doubt owes to his decision to vinify with 60% to 80% whole clusters in 2012, which helps to counter the vintage's impression of slightly elevated pHs, which Noblet told me are in the 3.6 to 3.65 range. These stunning wines impress more for their class and refinement than for sheer weight on the palate.
96+
From: 2012 Red Burgundies (Jan 2014)
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.
- By Stephen Tanzer on January 2014
Aubert de Villaine is always reticent about his new vintages before they are bottled, and his in-depth report on the growing season and harvest of 2012 goes into great detail on the challenges of the year. In the end, though, the crop was extremely small and concentrated (with an average yield in pinot noir of about 20 hectoliters per hectare) and the fruit was fully ripe and healthy. The main task at harvest was to leave behind the berries that were burned during a few scorching days at the end of June. Like many of his colleagues on the Cote de Nuits, de Villaine pointed out that without the natural crop thinning brought by mildew attacks and heat waves, the fruit would never have reached such a level of maturity and quality.The fermentations took a good six or seven days to start and it was even necessary to heat the grapes at the end of the harvest. DRC vinified with 60% to 70% whole clusters, with de Villaine pointing out that it's necessary to be careful with the use of stems in years with a lot of millerandage, "which means every vintage here since 2010." Today de Villaine compares the estate's 2011s to its 2009s in their finesse, charm and hedonistic appeal. The 2012s are more serious wines; as of November, he believed that they have more energy and riper tannins than the 2010s, and he ranks 2012 above 2010. As you will see from my tasting notes, 2012 is indeed an extraordinary vintage for this great estate. (Aubert de Villaine was not ready to present the Corton, as it had just been racked.)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
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Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
Wijnhuis
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (abbreviated DRC) is one of the most legendary wine estates in the world and is considered the pinnacle of Burgundian winemaking. The estate has a rich history that goes back hundreds of years and a deep connection with the traditions and terroirs of Burgundy.
Historical background of Romanée-Conti:
Early origins: The vineyards of Romanée-Conti have been cultivated since the Middle Ages. They were originally owned by monastic orders, who at that time managed many vineyards in Burgundy.
18th century: The Romanée vineyard (now Romanée-Conti) came into the hands of the Prince of Conti, Louis François de Bourbon, a nephew of Louis XV, in 1760. He added his name to the vineyard, which then became "La Romanée-Conti." The prince used the wine exclusively for his own court and guests, which contributed to its exclusive reputation.
French Revolution: During the French Revolution, the properties of the nobility, including Romanée-Conti, were confiscated. It was sold as national property.
Modern history: In 1869 the estate was purchased by the de Villaine family. Together with the Leroy family, they remain owners of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti to this day.
Domaine Romanée-Conti and its vineyards and terroirs:
Locations: DRC manages some of the most prestigious grand cru vineyards in Burgundy, including: Romanée-Conti (monopole)
- La Tâche (monopole)
- Richebourg
- Romanée-Saint-Vivant
- Grands Échézeaux
- Échézeaux
- Corton (since 2009)
- Montrachet (for the white wine)
Terroir:
The vineyards are located in Vosne-Romanée and feature a unique combination of limestone-rich soils, a mild climate, and an ideal location, resulting in wines of exceptional finesse and complexity.
Philosophy and viticulture of DRC
Hand harvest: Every grape is picked by hand to ensure quality.
Biodynamic viticulture: Since the 1980s, DRC has introduced biodynamic methods to preserve the natural balance of the vineyards.
Vinification: DRC combines traditional Burgundian techniques with modern innovations. The wines are aged in new oak barrels and mature for a long time before being released.
Why are the wines of Domaine Romanée-Conti so exclusive?
- Limited production: The total annual production of DRC is extremely low, making the wines rare and highly sought after.
- Quality over quantity: Every detail in production, from vineyard to bottle, is executed with the greatest care.
- Influence: DRC is the benchmark against which other Burgundian and even international wines are measured. The name is synonymous with luxury and perfection.
- Desirability: DRC wines are sold at auctions for record prices and are a must-have for collectors.
- Cultural icon: Over the centuries, DRC has become a symbol of elegance and refinement in the world of wine.
The 2012 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche Monopole Grand Cru is one of the most prestigious and coveted wines in the world. La Tâche is a monopole, meaning the vineyard is wholly owned by the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC), and it is considered one of the crown jewels of Burgundy. La Tâche is a grand cru vineyard in the Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, located in the commune of Vosne-Romanée and this is of course a 100% Pinot Noir, the signature grape of the region.
2012 was a challenging but very good vintage in Burgundy. The season was marked by difficult weather conditions: Hail, frost, and disease pressure severely limited yields. Due to these challenges, yields in 2012 were exceptionally low, resulting in a very concentrated and powerful wine. The grapes that were harvested were of high quality with a perfect balance between sugar and acidity. The scarcity and excellent quality make 2012 unique and highly sought after.
Tasting notes:
- Colour : Deep ruby red with beautiful clarity.
- Nose : Aromas of ripe red berries such as cherries and raspberries, complemented by notes of herbs, flowers (violets and roses), truffle and subtle mineral accents.
- Taste : Complex and layered with a perfect balance of ripe fruit, fresh acidity and silky tannins. The wine has a remarkable depth and length, with an almost ethereal texture.
- Finish : Exceptionally long and refined, with mineral and earthy notes beautifully interwoven with the fruit.
Storage potential:
This wine has enormous aging potential. Although it can be impressive when young, it will continue to develop in the bottle over the next 20 to 30 years (or more), developing more secondary and tertiary aromas such as earthy and smoky notes.
About La Tâche
La Tâche, located in Vosne-Romanée, is a cru particularly appreciated by professionals and wine lovers for its consistency, continuity and compactness. This vineyard, which extends in the heights and depths of the Côte de Nuits, has a rich diversity of soil types. This may explain the complexity and power of its wine. La Tâche is one of the two Monopole of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. The vineyard has had various owners over the years, including illustrious names such as Jean-Baptiste Le Goux de la Berchère in the 16th century and later the Liger-Belair family. Due to various circumstances, it was sold in 1933 to the owners of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
A major event in the history of the vineyard was the merger of La Tâche and the neighbouring Les Gaudichots, which was legally authorised by a court ruling in 1932. The vineyard is located between 250 and 300 metres above sea level and has a variety of soil types, varying in depth and composition. To combat erosion, measures have been taken, such as the construction of a concrete basin in 1985.
About Le Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Le Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) is a legendary French winery located in Burgundy. The wines of Le Domaine de la Romanée-Conti are a unique opportunity to invest in sublime Burgundy. The wines are very scarce and available through a very limited number of points of sale.
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Bourgogne |
| Appellation | Vosne-Romanée |
| Icons | Icon France |
| Winery | Domaine de la Romanee-Conti |
| Grape | Pinot Noir |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Drinking as of | 2020 |
| Drinking till | 2060 |
| Alcohol % | 13 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 97 |
| Vinous rating | 97 |
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 97
Reviewed by:
Neal Martin
Release Price:
NA
Drink Date:
2018 - 2050
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? Readers should note that there is just 1,113 cases produced rather than the usual 1,870.
Published: Feb 28, 2015
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
97
Drinking Window
2027 - 2062
From: Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival 2015 (Mar 2016)
A wine of almost raw, animal power, the 2012 La Tâche possesses stunning depth and intensity. Savory, floral and red citrus notes are pushed forward in an unusually virile, imposing La Tâche. Readers will have to be patient here, which will not surprise anyone familiar with the vintage. Still, I am taken aback by the wine’s embryonic youthfulness.
- By Antonio Galloni on October 2015
I was thrilled to be a part of the 11th Grand Cru Culinary Wine Festival, held this past fall in Toronto. The weekend long program of seminars, tastings and dinners hosted by an incredible collection of luminaries from the worlds of wine and food helped raise $5.5m for the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine, one of the world’s leading research centers focused on stem cell research. These two smaller events within Grand Cru showcased the wines of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and brought in donations of $1m.
97
Drinking Window
2032 - 2062
From: The 2013 & 2012 Red Burgundies (Apr 2015)
There isn't much to say about the 2012 La Tâche because it is nearly as complete as a young wine can possibly be. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. In 2012 it is the wine's extraordinary textural finesse and huge towering structure that stand out. The classic La Tâche floral and savory notes are all amped up by the richness and overall intensity of the year.
- By Antonio Galloni on November 2014
Aubert de Villaine compared the domaine's 2012s to the 1991s, when I tasted the finished wines with him at the estate in November 2014. To be sure, though, the 2012s have come a long way since they were bottled. A year ago, the wines showed a palpable sense of raw power from tiny yields and late malos. Today, the wines are much more polished. At this stage, the 2012s can be divided into two groups; wines that are intensely tannic (Corton, Grands-Échézeaux, Romanée St.-Vivant and Romanée-Conti), and others where the concentration of fruit stands out above all else (Échézeaux, Richebourg and, to a lesser extent, La Tâche).
97
Drinking Window
2029 - 2046
From: The 2012 Red Burgundies from Bottle (Mar 2015)
Bright, dark red. Spellbinding perfume combines red berries, cherry, Oriental spices, rose petal, licorice, pepper and minerals. Perfectly balanced from the outset, showing outstanding clarity and lift, not to mention superb sappy depth, to its multifaceted red fruit, mineral, spice and floral flavors. The combination of sweetness and grip is extraordinary, as is the wine's expanding, mounting aftertaste. Will this beauty ever go into a truly sullen stage? Probably.
- By Stephen Tanzer on November 2014
I tasted with Cellarmaster Bernard Noblet in November, so I was not able to ask Aubert de Villaine if he still prefers the estate's 2012s to its 2010s. In November of 2013, de Villaine ventured the opinion that the '12s have "more energy and riper tannins" than the earlier year. Part of that energy no doubt owes to his decision to vinify with 60% to 80% whole clusters in 2012, which helps to counter the vintage's impression of slightly elevated pHs, which Noblet told me are in the 3.6 to 3.65 range. These stunning wines impress more for their class and refinement than for sheer weight on the palate.
96+
From: 2012 Red Burgundies (Jan 2014)
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.
- By Stephen Tanzer on January 2014
Aubert de Villaine is always reticent about his new vintages before they are bottled, and his in-depth report on the growing season and harvest of 2012 goes into great detail on the challenges of the year. In the end, though, the crop was extremely small and concentrated (with an average yield in pinot noir of about 20 hectoliters per hectare) and the fruit was fully ripe and healthy. The main task at harvest was to leave behind the berries that were burned during a few scorching days at the end of June. Like many of his colleagues on the Cote de Nuits, de Villaine pointed out that without the natural crop thinning brought by mildew attacks and heat waves, the fruit would never have reached such a level of maturity and quality.The fermentations took a good six or seven days to start and it was even necessary to heat the grapes at the end of the harvest. DRC vinified with 60% to 70% whole clusters, with de Villaine pointing out that it's necessary to be careful with the use of stems in years with a lot of millerandage, "which means every vintage here since 2010." Today de Villaine compares the estate's 2011s to its 2009s in their finesse, charm and hedonistic appeal. The 2012s are more serious wines; as of November, he believed that they have more energy and riper tannins than the 2010s, and he ranks 2012 above 2010. As you will see from my tasting notes, 2012 is indeed an extraordinary vintage for this great estate. (Aubert de Villaine was not ready to present the Corton, as it had just been racked.)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (abbreviated DRC) is one of the most legendary wine estates in the world and is considered the pinnacle of Burgundian winemaking. The estate has a rich history that goes back hundreds of years and a deep connection with the traditions and terroirs of Burgundy.
Historical background of Romanée-Conti:
Early origins: The vineyards of Romanée-Conti have been cultivated since the Middle Ages. They were originally owned by monastic orders, who at that time managed many vineyards in Burgundy.
18th century: The Romanée vineyard (now Romanée-Conti) came into the hands of the Prince of Conti, Louis François de Bourbon, a nephew of Louis XV, in 1760. He added his name to the vineyard, which then became "La Romanée-Conti." The prince used the wine exclusively for his own court and guests, which contributed to its exclusive reputation.
French Revolution: During the French Revolution, the properties of the nobility, including Romanée-Conti, were confiscated. It was sold as national property.
Modern history: In 1869 the estate was purchased by the de Villaine family. Together with the Leroy family, they remain owners of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti to this day.
Domaine Romanée-Conti and its vineyards and terroirs:
Locations: DRC manages some of the most prestigious grand cru vineyards in Burgundy, including: Romanée-Conti (monopole)
- La Tâche (monopole)
- Richebourg
- Romanée-Saint-Vivant
- Grands Échézeaux
- Échézeaux
- Corton (since 2009)
- Montrachet (for the white wine)
Terroir:
The vineyards are located in Vosne-Romanée and feature a unique combination of limestone-rich soils, a mild climate, and an ideal location, resulting in wines of exceptional finesse and complexity.
Philosophy and viticulture of DRC
Hand harvest: Every grape is picked by hand to ensure quality.
Biodynamic viticulture: Since the 1980s, DRC has introduced biodynamic methods to preserve the natural balance of the vineyards.
Vinification: DRC combines traditional Burgundian techniques with modern innovations. The wines are aged in new oak barrels and mature for a long time before being released.
Why are the wines of Domaine Romanée-Conti so exclusive?
- Limited production: The total annual production of DRC is extremely low, making the wines rare and highly sought after.
- Quality over quantity: Every detail in production, from vineyard to bottle, is executed with the greatest care.
- Influence: DRC is the benchmark against which other Burgundian and even international wines are measured. The name is synonymous with luxury and perfection.
- Desirability: DRC wines are sold at auctions for record prices and are a must-have for collectors.
- Cultural icon: Over the centuries, DRC has become a symbol of elegance and refinement in the world of wine.