Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Grand Cru Monopole 2014 0,75L

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche Grand Cru Monopole 2014

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 2014 Vintage

The 2014 vintage in Burgundy delivered everything serious collectors seek: exceptional quality, relative abundance, and wines built for long-term aging. After a mild winter and early spring, a cool summer slowed ripening, preserving freshness and acidity. September brought ideal conditions—warm days, cool nights—allowing perfect phenolic maturity while maintaining vibrancy.

Critics universally praised 2014 as one of Burgundy’s finest recent vintages. The wines combine the structure of classic years (2005, 2010) with the aromatic complexity and elegance of warmer vintages (2009, 2015). For DRC specifically, 2014 represents a triumph: Aubert de Villaine declared it among the domaine’s finest vintages of the decade. The estate’s biodynamic farming and old vines produced wines of extraordinary depth and complexity.

Now at 10 years of age, the 2014 DRC wines are entering early maturity—developing tertiary complexity while retaining vibrant fruit and structure. For La Tâche specifically, the vintage delivers everything collectors seek: power balanced by grace, concentration tempered by elegance, and structure ensuring 25-35 years of continued evolution. The monopole status guarantees absolute quality control and consistent excellence.

Tasting Experience

• The aromatics showcase La Tâche’s legendary complexity: layers of black cherry, cassis, raspberry, and red plum intertwine with rose petals, violet, exotic spice (star anise, cinnamon, cardamom, five-spice), and profound minerality (iron, crushed stone, graphite). Beneath lies earthy depth—truffle, forest floor, mushroom, sous-bois—plus subtle oak (vanilla, toast, now integrating). The whole-cluster fermentation adds distinctive herbal lift and textural complexity.
• The palate delivers La Tâche’s signature character elevated by 2014’s structure: full-bodied with extraordinary concentration yet maintaining the silky texture that defines great Burgundy. Black fruit flavors dominate—cherry, cassis, blackberry, plum—supported by vibrant acidity that provides lift despite the wine’s power. The tannins, firm but refined, provide framework for decades ahead.
• Mid-palate depth is extraordinary: layer upon layer unfolds—dark fruits, savory notes (cured meat, black tea, dried herbs, smoke), persistent spice, and unwavering minerality. This is Pinot Noir at maximum expression while retaining varietal identity and transparent terroir. The wine shows La Tâche’s distinctive character: more structured than RSV, more elegant than Richebourg, uniquely complete.
• The finish extends for remarkable length—90+ seconds—leaving lingering impressions of black cherry, iron, truffle, rose petal, exotic spice, and that distinctive La Tâche mineral signature. The wine has reached beautiful early maturity: tertiary complexity developing while retaining vibrant fruit and fresh acidity. The structure suggests another 20-30 years of graceful evolution.
• This is DRC La Tâche—wine that rivals Romanée-Conti itself in collector demand. It represents the absolute pinnacle of monopole viticulture: complete quality control from ancient vines, biodynamic farming perfected over generations, and terroir that produces Burgundy’s most complete Pinot Noir. The 2014 vintage ensures longevity; the monopole guarantees excellence.

Service & Food Pairing

Serve at 17-18°C in the finest Burgundy stems available—La Tâche deserves Zalto Burgundy or Riedel Sommelier Series minimum. Decant 2-3 hours before service to fully awaken this Grand Cru’s complex aromatics. Pour gently to avoid disturbing any sediment. Allow substantial time in the glass (60+ minutes) before drinking—the wine continues evolving over 5-6 hours. La Tâche is a meditation wine that rewards contemplation and patience. Open only for life’s most significant occasions.

Exceptional pairings:

• Roasted game perfection: venison saddle with black truffle jus, wild duck breast with cherry-port reduction, roasted woodcock
• Wagyu at its finest: A5 Wagyu ribeye with bone marrow, dry-aged prime beef with truffle butter, côte de boeuf
• Périgord black truffle: risotto with fresh truffles, scrambled eggs with truffle shavings, truffle-crusted filet
• Wild mushrooms: cèpe-crusted beef tenderloin, porcini ravioli with aged Parmesan, chanterelle tart with Comté
• Époisses de Bourgogne at peak ripeness—the ultimate Burgundian pairing
• Or drink alone in reverent silence—La Tâche deserves undivided attention

Cellaring & Evolution

At 10 years from vintage, this wine has entered early-to-mid maturity but remains decades from peak. The 2014 vintage’s structure and La Tâche’s concentration ensure 25-35 more years of graceful evolution. Those opening now experience the wine at a magical transition: secondary and tertiary complexity emerging while retaining core vibrancy and fruit purity.

Expect peak maturity 2030-2045, though DRC monopole wines routinely age 40-50+ years. Patient collectors cellaring until 2040+ will experience this wine at full maturity—savory complexity, integrated tannins, profound tertiary development. The monopole status guarantees consistent quality: every vine farmed identically, every grape hand-sorted, every decision optimized for longevity.

Store horizontally in dark, vibration-free conditions at 12-14°C with 70-75% humidity in complete darkness. Provenance is absolutely critical for DRC—ensure perfect fill levels, original capsules intact, and documented storage history. La Tâche represents museum-quality investment assets that appreciate steadily at auction. The monopole’s scarcity (only 6.06 hectares exists worldwide) ensures perpetual collector demand and price appreciation.

Collector’s Note: DRC La Tâche represents the ultimate Burgundy collectible after Romanée-Conti itself: legendary monopole, exceptional vintage (2014 praised by critics), proven aging potential, and guaranteed scarcity. At auction, La Tâche commands prices rivaling the world’s finest wines, with consistent appreciation over time. This 2014, from one of the decade’s finest vintages, offers both immediate transcendent pleasure and long-term investment potential. For serious collectors building world-class cellars, La Tâche isn’t optional—it’s essential alongside Romanée-Conti. The monopole status ensures absolute quality and perpetual rarity. Expect steady appreciation as the wine approaches peak maturity in 2030-2040.