Domaine de la Romanee-Conti (DRC) La Tache Monopole Grand Cru 2018 [NET] SO20231114 highlighting fruit from the Aÿ

highlighting fruit from the Aÿ vineyard

and clean finish

These lead to a rich palate of dried papaya

and one of the wines that will define the vintage

bottled by moon phases

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti (DRC) La Tache Monopole Grand Cru 2018 [NET] SO20231114 highlighting fruit from the AÿLa Tche is DRC's monopole and the largest of their Grand Crus, the most opulent and powerfully built of the domaine's reds. 2018 was a warm, ripe vintage in Burgundy, and the La Tche translates that into volume rather than weight: a big, muscular wine with explosive fruit depth, layered florals, and the kind of mid palate density that completely envelops the appellation's typically firm tannins. The finish is long and slightly austere, a counterweight