2014 La Tache
By Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
2014 La Tache from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Burgundy, France
The 2014 La Tache is a testament to the resilience and supreme quality maintained by Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, even in a year that proved challenging for Burgundy winemakers. This particular vintage brandishes distinct characteristics that set it apart from its brethren, encapsulating the unique interplay between terroir and climatic intricacies.
Exquisite Elegance: A Narrative of Terroir and Time
The growing season of 2014 saw an unexpected confluence of conditions, with a mild winter and an erratic summer marked by hailstorms and cooler than usual temperatures. Nevertheless, the formidable team at Domaine de la Romanee-Conti navigated these tribulations with aplomb, yielding a harvest that defied expectation. The result was a wine of taut precision and depth that charms the discerning oenophile searching for a robust yet refined investment piece.
A Connoisseur's Canvas: The Profile of the Vintage
The profile of the 2014 La Tache intrigues with its vivid palette of flavours — dark cherries, ripe strawberries and a whisper of allspice. These aromas coalesce beneath an aromatic canopy of violets underscored by subtle earthy tones, reflecting a masterful expression of the wine’s noble lineage. On the palate, its texture commingles silkiness with gravity, asserting tannins mellowed to a supple embrace — a harmonious synthesis heralding excellent ageing potential.
Investors be advised; this particular vintage offers the dual allure of immediate pleasure and long-term reward. Few wines balance complexity with such singular grace, promising continued evolution as it rests in the sanctum of one's cellar.
An Investment to Savor: The 2014 La Tache Signature
To sample this wine is to understand its inherent value not only as an epicurean delight but also as an asset worthy of portfolio consideration. With each swirl and sip of this nectar from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, the story of 2014 unfolds — showcasing an impeccable interpretation where adversity has birthed exquisiteness.
In summary, the 2014 La Tache embarks upon an olfactory journey reminiscent of wandering through ancient forests enshrouded in mist - mysterious, complex and utterly enchanting. This exceptional vintage stands poised to heighten any esteemed collection, exuding poise and promising prosperity in both sensory indulgence and investment return.
Market price (GBP)
£46,110.00
12x75cl
Highest score
96
POP score
2881.88
Scores and tasting notes
The 2014 La Tâche Grand Cru was picked on 17, 18 and 20 September at 32 hectoliters per hectare, bottled between 1 and 25 April 2016. It has a quite startling bouquet: dark berry fruit, bay leaf, hints of jasmine tea and autumn leaves. It delivers multi-faceted aromatics, a mercurial bouquet, brown spices emerging with continued aeration in the glass. It is a tad more forward than I expected. The palate is medium-bodied with great structure and fine grip. This is a slightly more masculine La Tâche and replicating its performance in barrel, the fruit spectrum shimmies from red to black (incidentally, exactly as I observed when I tasted it in barrel). There is a lovely lift on the finish that leaves you with a piquant kiss on the cheek. This is wonderful. 1,929 cases produced. Tasted February 2017.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 February 2017