Pale to medium ruby with a touch of brick. The La Tache gives very little on the nose to begin with but soon blossoms into the most incredible cherry compote black truffle cloves loam saucisson and tobacco leaf aromas. The palate shows exemplary structure and concentration seamlessly knitting very crisp acidity with a firm level of very finely grained tannins and layer upon layer of complex fruit mineral and game flavours. Very long finish. This wine has many great years left and will generously reward the patient. -LPB Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

This wine is mind-boggling and has gathered even more body power and density than it displayed from barrel. It is intensely profound and super-ripe yet harmonious. Its extraordinarily long finish (it tails off with a sweet kirsch kiss) flabbergasted me. I could not help but think of the finishes of two wines I love - Chateau Rayas and Chateau Lafleur. It appears to be holding an enormous amount in reserve and may ultimately merit higher ratings. It should be held at least ten years and will easily last through 2020 given proper cellar conditions. Bravo! -PR

A sensational La Tâche that's as good as I remember upon release. Shows a suppleness in the tannins without compromising the compact mineral wet earth and ironlike flavors that express this grand cru's terroir. Balanced with lots of beautiful fruit but above all it has pleasure and harmony etched all over it.--La Tâche vertical. (PM)

Stylistically this borrows elements from both the '97 and the '96 as it combines moderate floral notes with most of the spice soy and hoisin of the '96 plus the densest flavors of any vintage to this point. The mid-palate doesn't have quite the same sap of the '96 and the long dusty finish offers a hint of chocolate and violets. This too has the potential to be very long lived and even at 13 years of age it's clear that it still has another 7 to 10 years to go before it reaches its full potential. Multiple notes with consistent results; in fact a recent bottle tasted in Burgundy was even better than the bottle in the big La Tâche tasting held in early '03.