La Tache 1988 Domaine de la Romanee Conti

Professional reviews

Robert Parker (88)

This wine was spectacular from cask, but tasting it three times from bottle has been a bewildering experience. The color is a disturbingly light to medium ruby. The wine's aromatics exhibit oak, smoke, and vanilla, but little fruit. No amount of coaxing or breathing enhances the wine's bouquet, which appears to crack up with exposure to air. There is moderately high tannin and good concentration, as well as a nasty toughness, suggesting a deficiency in flesh, weight, and extraction. Although it was impressive young, it now appears to be a lightweight La Tache.

Winespectator (92)

Excellent, showing a minerally concentration that gives it a silky feel on the midpalate. Lots of great acidity makes it fresh and zesty. Medium-bodied, with lovely red berry flavor and firm, gripping tannins that provide a chewy finish. Expect a rather lean wine, not an opulent one.