The 2005 La Tâche Grand Cru is just starting to be approachable, although I would not begrudge anyone who might prefer to cellar it for a few more years. I am struck by the wine's huge core of dark fruit and magnificent sense of proportion. Time in the glass brings out the classic range of La Tâche aromatics - black tea, mint, sage, crushed flowers and exotic spice - and yet the 2005 remains a Burgundy of substance and textural depth more than anything else. It's a statuesque Burgundy in which everything comes together. Tasted at a private dinner. -- Antonio Galloni

There is only one word to do the nose true justice and that is kaleidoscopic as the aromatic breadth here is simply dazzling with red and black cherry cassis plum and subtle earth notes replete with the same Asian spice cabinet aromas as the RSV displays but here the floral aspect particularly rose petal is much more pronounced. However the '05 LT is almost a combination of the RSV's class grace and sensuality and the Riche's power taut muscularity and huge length as the overall palate impact is equivalent to a vinous bomb exploding on the cuts-like-a-knife finish that can be measured in minutes not seconds. This is structured to the point of being chewy yet it is never rustic or coarse because the gorgeously detailed palate is buffered by buckets of dry extract. As readers know I often use the word Zen to describe the kind of inner harmony of a great vintage of Romanée-Conti but rarely with La Tâche yet in 2005 the LT has this element of inner calm and grace as well. In sum this is a huge but utterly classy and stylish wine that will undoubtedly go down as one of the all time great LT's.

The 2005 La Tache epitomizes the unique mysteries of Pinot (not to mention the character of a great site) with its aromas of game musk iris star anise vanilla allspice and naturally also an abundance of sweet ripe implosively tiny-berried fruit. Imagine a black Riesling. On the palate a vivid freshness of fruit pungency of spice and flowers and melting away of what in point of analytical fact are abundant tannins all engender an almost white wine dynamic of fruit-mineral call-and-response and clear incisive penetration of flavors to every recess of the mouth. This is a T.R. sort of wine - you just don't feel the stick.

A dark side emerges with La Tâche, revealing profound scents of violet, black currant, bilberry and licorice. Definitely meaty and solid--as the French would say, carrée (square)--yet with great depth, richness and length, along with sweet fruit. A fabulous La Tâche, like a well-tuned Ferrari, this is a red Burgundy of classic proportions. Best from 2018 through 2045. –BS