Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Grand Cru Monopole 2012 0,75L

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche Grand Cru Monopole 2012

The Estate

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti requires no introduction to serious wine collectors—it is, quite simply, the most prestigious wine estate on Earth. Co-owned by the de Villaine and Leroy families since the 18th century, DRC produces wines from the greatest Grand Cru parcels in Burgundy, farmed with biodynamic practices and vinified with methods perfected over generations.

The domaine’s holdings read like a greatest hits of Burgundian viticulture: monopoles Romanée-Conti and La Tâche, plus parcels in Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant, Échezeaux, Grands-Échezeaux, and Corton. From these hallowed vineyards, DRC produces wines of extraordinary depth, complexity, and longevity—bottles that command prices rivaling fine art and appear at auction with the frequency and fanfare of masterpieces.

DRC’s winemaking philosophy emphasizes minimal intervention: biodynamic viticulture with microscopic yields (often 20-25 hl/ha), whole-cluster fermentation, aging in 100% new French oak, and bottling without filtration. The goal is to allow each terroir to express itself with perfect clarity while providing the structure for decades of aging. The results speak for themselves: wines that collectors treasure as liquid history.

La Tâche: DRC’s Monopole Masterpiece

La Tâche is DRC’s monopole crown jewel—6.06 hectares of Grand Cru perfection owned entirely by the domaine since 1933. Positioned above Romanée-Conti and below the village, this legendary vineyard produces wines that collectors consider the perfect expression of Burgundian Pinot Noir: powerful yet elegant, structured yet seductive, profound yet transparent to terroir.

The vineyard’s name derives from ‘tâche’ (task), suggesting the considerable work required to cultivate this challenging terroir. The steep, mid-slope position offers ideal southeast exposure and exceptional drainage. The soil composition—Jurassic limestone with iron-rich clay—provides the mineral backbone and elegant structure that define La Tâche’s character.

What makes La Tâche exceptional is its monopole status: every bottle originates from vines farmed biodynamically by DRC for nearly a century. The average vine age exceeds 50 years, with some parcels planted in the 1940s-1960s. Yields are minuscule—rarely exceeding 20 hl/ha—ensuring extraordinary concentration and complexity.

The result is wine that defines Burgundy’s pinnacle: La Tâche combines power (like Richebourg), elegance (like RSV), and its own distinctive character—savory complexity, mineral depth, and the transparent terroir expression that makes great Burgundy immortal. At auction, La Tâche rivals Romanée-Conti itself in collector demand and pricing appreciation.

The 2012 Vintage

The 2012 vintage in Burgundy presented challenges that ultimately rewarded DRC’s expertise and uncompromising standards. Variable weather during the growing season—spring frost, uneven flowering, summer challenges—naturally reduced yields. However, a spectacular late summer and autumn brought ideal ripening conditions, allowing the domaine’s old vines to achieve exceptional phenolic maturity while maintaining vibrant acidity.

Aubert de Villaine praised 2012 as a ‘classic vintage’ that favors elegance and terroir expression over sheer power. The wines possess refined structure, bright fruit character, and the balance necessary for graceful aging. While lacking the concentration of warmer years (2009, 2015), 2012 DRC wines offer purity, precision, and aging potential—qualities particularly valuable in wines designed for multi-decade cellaring.

Now at 12+ years of age, the 2012 DRC wines have entered their prime drinking window. Critics who initially approached the vintage cautiously have revised assessments upward as the wines develop beautiful tertiary complexity while retaining core vibrancy. For La Tâche specifically, 2012 delivers everything collectors seek from the monopole: elegant power balanced by grace, concentration tempered by refinement, and structure ensuring continued evolution for decades ahead.

Tasting Experience

• At 12 years of age, the wine opens with La Tâche’s signature aromatic complexity: layers of red and black fruits (cherry, raspberry, cassis, plum) intertwine with rose petals, violet, and exotic spice (cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, five-spice). Beneath lies profound earthiness—truffle, forest floor, mushroom, sous-bois—alongside subtle oak (vanilla, toast) now fully integrated. The distinctive La Tâche mineral signature (iron, crushed stone, graphite) anchors the bouquet.
• The palate reveals the monopole’s legendary character: full-bodied with extraordinary concentration yet maintaining the silky texture that defines great Burgundy. Black fruit flavors dominate—cherry, cassis, blackberry—supported by vibrant acidity that provides lift and energy. The 2012 vintage’s refined structure creates wines of elegant power rather than sheer force. The tannins, firm in youth, have now resolved into refined framework.
• Mid-palate depth is extraordinary: layer upon layer of flavor and texture unfold—dark fruits, savory notes (cured meat, black tea, dried herbs, smoke), persistent spice, and unwavering minerality. The whole-cluster fermentation adds textural complexity and savory character. This is La Tâche showing its complete personality: more structured than RSV, more elegant than Richebourg, uniquely balanced and profound.
• The finish extends for remarkable length—85+ seconds—leaving lingering impressions of black cherry, iron, truffle, rose petal, exotic spice, and that distinctive La Tâche mineral signature that separates it from all other Burgundies. The wine has reached beautiful early maturity: tertiary complexity developed while retaining vibrant fruit and fresh acidity. The structure suggests another 15-25 years of graceful evolution.
• This is DRC La Tâche—the monopole that rivals Romanée-Conti itself. The 2012 vintage’s elegance and refinement showcase the vineyard’s ability to produce wines of perfect balance. The monopole status means absolute quality control: every vine, every grape, every decision optimized for excellence. This is investment-grade liquid art that will continue appreciating for decades.

Service & Food Pairing

Serve at 17-18°C in the finest Burgundy stems available—Zalto Burgundy or Riedel Sommelier Series minimum. Decant 90-120 minutes before service to fully awaken this Grand Cru’s complex aromatics. Pour gently to avoid disturbing sediment. Allow substantial time in the glass (45-60 minutes) before drinking—the wine continues evolving over 4-6 hours. La Tâche deserves contemplation and reverence. Open only for life’s most significant moments.

Exceptional pairings:

• Roasted game: venison saddle with black truffle sauce, wild duck breast with cherry-port reduction, roasted ortolan
• Wagyu or aged prime beef: A5 Wagyu ribeye with bone marrow, côte de boeuf, dry-aged New York strip with truffle butter
• Périgord black truffle preparations: risotto with fresh truffles, scrambled eggs with truffle shavings, pasta with butter and truffle
• Wild mushroom dishes: cèpe-crusted beef tenderloin, porcini ravioli with aged Parmesan, chanterelle tart
• Époisses de Bourgogne at peak ripeness—the ultimate Burgundian pairing
• Or drink in meditative silence—La Tâche deserves full attention

Cellaring & Evolution

At 12+ years from vintage, this wine has entered early-to-mid maturity and will continue evolving gracefully for another 15-25 years under optimal conditions. DRC monopole wines are renowned for their longevity, often aging beautifully for 30-50+ years. The 2012 vintage’s structure and La Tâche’s concentration ensure decades ahead.

Those opening bottles now experience the wine at a magical stage: tertiary complexity developed while retaining vibrant fruit. Patient collectors cellaring until 2030-2040 will witness full maturity—savory complexity, integrated tannins, profound depth. The wine should peak 2030-2040 but offer pleasure well beyond. The monopole status guarantees consistent aging: every bottle from the same 6.06 hectares farmed identically.

Store horizontally in a dark, vibration-free environment at 12-14°C with 70-75% humidity. Provenance is absolutely critical for DRC—ensure perfect fill level and documented storage history. These wines represent museum-quality investment assets that appreciate steadily at auction. La Tâche’s scarcity (only one vineyard in the world) ensures perpetual collector demand.

Collector’s Note: DRC La Tâche represents the ultimate monopole collectible: legendary estate, exceptional terroir, proven vintage quality, and guaranteed scarcity. At auction, La Tâche commands prices second only to Romanée-Conti, with consistent appreciation over time. This 2012, now drinking beautifully, offers both immediate transcendent pleasure and long-term investment potential. For serious collectors building world-class cellars, La Tâche monopole wines are essential—they represent absolute quality control and perpetual rarity. The 2012, with its classic elegance and refined structure, exemplifies why collectors treasure DRC monopoles. Expect steady appreciation as the vintage approaches peak maturity.