La Tâche, Domaine de la Romanée Conti 1998

This remains relatively primary though there are subtle secondary hints creeping in to add nuance to the stunning nose of ripe red and black fruits, oriental spices, tea and leather notes. There is superb intensity to the dense, serious and strikingly complex flavors that are underpinned by ripe tannins and huge length on the balanced, mouth coating and dazzling finish. The personality here is edgy, cool, confident and pure with the ripe acidity framing the flavors and the finish here is wonderfully focused. It's worth pointing out that while this is still on the way up, I was pleasantly surprised at how approachable the '98 LT was even though there is more development potential to realize. Multiple and consistent notes.

Stunning nose of red and black fruits, oriental spices, tea and leather notes. Intensely sappy flavor with wave after wave of ever changing flavors. The personality here is edgy, cool, confident and pure with the ripe acidity framing the flavors. The Richebourg is long but the La Tâche is even longer. A great effort. Tasted on two occasions and both were consistent with the other.