At a glance

Producer

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Region

La Tâche Grand Cru Monopole, Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France

Grape variety

Pinot Noir

Wine type

Red

Body

Full-bodied and Silky

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$7,000 - $13,000 (USD) per 750ml bottle (as of 2024)

Tasting profile

Soaring bouquet of rose petal, black cherry, wild strawberry, Asian spice, sous-bois, forest floor, earthy minerality, and subtle oak; palate is ethereal with velvety tannin, electric acidity, endless finish.

Evolution: In youth: exuberant red and black fruits, vibrant perfume, noticeable oak. Now: tertiary development includes savory, truffle, sandalwood, sweet tobacco, dried flowers, mushroom, dried herbs.

At peak: At peak, combines haunting perfume with profound depth and silky texture, forming a seamless whole; nuanced mineral and spice notes with persistent, ultra-long finish.

Structure

Acidity

Bright, lively acidity underpinning the palate; classic for great Burgundy and essential for its aging capacity.

Tannins

Very fine, silky but still present; integrated yet with persistent structural grip indicative of long aging.

Alcohol

Medium (13.0-13.5% ABV typical for vintage and domaine)

Aging potential

Outstanding – 40-50+ years from vintage, especially in large formats and ideal storage.

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2020 to 2040

Optimal window

2018 to 2050

Current status

Entering peak maturity but with decades of life left.

Current condition

Exceptional bottles are now in their first plateau of complexity and harmony; the wine is deeply expressive, aromatic, and texturally refined.

2005 was an exceptional, structured vintage in Burgundy, producing monumental, long-lived wines. La Tâche 2005, from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's legendary monopole, is famed for its balance, depth, and aging potential. This wine is widely expected to remain at peak between 2020 and 2040, with extraordinary bottles capable of improving or holding for another decade or more, especially in perfect cellaring conditions.

Food pairing

Best served with refined dishes: roast duck (with cherries or five-spice), pigeon, squab, veal tenderloin, wild mushroom risotto, light game (hare, venison), or simply with Comté cheese, truffles, or Peking duck. Avoid heavy sauces.

Serving

Serving temperature

16-18°C / 61-64°F

Decant

Yes (1-2 hours) — To gently aerate and reveal aromatics, as some sediment may be present and complexity is enhanced with air.

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 7/10

Hand-harvesting, organic and biodynamic viticulture (no synthetic pesticides/herbicides), low intervention winemaking, horses used in vineyards, low sulfur usage, recyclable packaging, minimal use of chemicals, cover-cropping, biodiversity fostering (hedgerows, trees on estate).

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is a pioneer in Burgundy for conscientious farming, transitioning to organic in 1986 and biodynamic methods since the late 1980s, but has not pursued prominent third-party biodynamic certification. Most vineyard tasks are done by hand or using horses. Winery energy use is moderate (traditional in style, no major solar/energy upgrades). Packaging is standard glass; no noted shift to lightweight or alternative materials, but the overall production is extremely low-impact per hectare. Transport to global luxury markets does increase the carbon footprint, but limited allocations mean relatively few shipments. Overall, the estate scores well on environment, but could improve with formal certifications and packaging/energy innovations.