La Tâche

La Tâche functions as the second DRC monopole alongside Romanée-Conti, with the two appellations together defining DRC's flagship commercial commerce. The 6.06-hectare La Tâche footprint is approximately 3.3× larger than the 1.81-hectare Romanée-Conti, giving DRC substantially more annual production from the appellation: approximately 18,000-22,000 bottles per vintage compared to Romanée-Conti's 5,000-6,000 bottles. The larger commercial scale provides DRC with vintage-by-vintage flexibility that Romanée-Conti's tiny production does not allow: blending across La Tâche's multiple parcels to optimise vintage register, reserving select barrels for late-release programmes, and accommodating the broader global allocation demand that exceeds what Romanée-Conti alone can supply. Aubert de Villaine's grandfather Edmond Gaudin de Villaine acquired the La Tâche property in 1933 (a small portion of the broader 1933 acquisition that consolidated DRC's Vosne portfolio under family commercial commerce), and the vineyard has been held continuously as DRC monopole since the 1933 consolidation. Contemporary commercial commerce treats La Tâche and Romanée-Conti as the dual flagships of the DRC portfolio, with the two wines bottled identically (same vinification practices, same élevage schedule, same packaging tradition with the distinctive DRC bordeaux-shaped bottle and the tan-colored label) and sold within the DRC 12-bottle assortment case alongside Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant, Échezeaux, Grands Échezeaux, plus Corton (since 2009) and Le Montrachet (small Côte de Beaune holding).

• 6.06 ha = 3.3× larger than 1.81 ha Romanée-Conti; ~18,000-22,000 bottles vs 5,000-6,000 = larger commercial scale enables vintage flexibility
• Edmond Gaudin de Villaine (Aubert's grandfather) acquired La Tâche 1933 in broader Vosne portfolio consolidation under family commercial commerce
• DRC dual flagships: La Tâche + Romanée-Conti bottled identically (same vinification, élevage, packaging); commercial commerce treats as paired apex of DRC portfolio
• Sold within DRC 12-bottle assortment case alongside Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant, Échezeaux, Grands Échezeaux, Corton (2009+), Le Montrachet (CdB)

La Tâche occupies an elongated rectangular vineyard at the upper-mid slope of Vosne-Romanée's Grand Cru cluster, sitting immediately north of Romanée-Conti and west of La Grande Rue. The vineyard runs approximately 350 metres north-south and 175 metres east-west across the eastern face of the Côte d'Or escarpment, with elevation ranging from 270 metres at the lower-slope eastern boundary to 300 metres at the upper-slope western boundary. Slope angle averages 8-12% with east-southeast slope orientation matching the canonical Vosne-Romanée Grand Cru terroir. The vineyard's geographic position immediately north of Romanée-Conti within the concave escarpment geometry that defines Vosne-Romanée's prestige sites produces nearly identical microclimatic concentration: the same southeast-facing aspect from the inward-curving slope, the same morning sun warming and afternoon shade balance, the same cool air drainage from the upper plateau. The marginal microclimatic differences from Romanée-Conti are at the level of subtle parcel-position variation rather than meaningful stylistic divergence, with La Tâche producing wines stylistically comparable to Romanée-Conti at the level of structural and aromatic register, distinguished primarily by the larger vineyard footprint that allows for more aromatic register variation across the parcel.

• Elongated rectangular vineyard immediately north of Romanée-Conti; west of La Grande Rue
• ~350 m north-south × ~175 m east-west; elevation 270-300 m; slope angle 8-12%; east-southeast orientation
• Same concave escarpment geometry as Romanée-Conti = nearly identical microclimatic concentration
• Marginal microclimatic differences from Romanée-Conti at level of subtle parcel-position variation; larger footprint allows more aromatic register variation

La Tâche's geological substrate is the canonical Bathonian limestone bedrock of Vosne-Romanée's prestige sites, with marl-enriched soil profile comparable to Romanée-Conti's soil characteristics. Soil depth at the La Tâche core typically runs 30-50 centimetres of marl-rich stony loam over the Bathonian bedrock, with marl content slightly higher than the broader upper-slope Vosne GC soils reflecting the parcel's position within the marl-enriched Bathonian sub-formation that distinguishes Vosne-Romanée from neighbouring Côte de Nuits villages. The slightly larger vineyard footprint relative to Romanée-Conti produces marginal soil profile variation across La Tâche's 6.06 hectares: the upper-slope western portion carries shallower profiles closer to the Comblanchien limestone fragments at the slope crown; the lower-slope eastern portion carries deeper profiles approaching the village-tier soils. The within-parcel variation gives La Tâche a slightly broader stylistic range than Romanée-Conti's more uniformly concentrated profile, with the contemporary DRC vinification approach treating La Tâche as the broader expression of DRC's Vosne terroir while Romanée-Conti represents the most concentrated single-parcel apex. The geological identity with Romanée-Conti at the bedrock level and the comparable concave escarpment geometry produce the stylistic similarity between the two appellations, with experienced critics describing the difference as one of register breadth rather than stylistic register divergence.

• Bathonian limestone bedrock identical to Romanée-Conti; marl-enriched soil profile (30-50 cm marl-rich stony loam over Bathonian bedrock)
• Slightly larger footprint produces marginal soil profile variation: upper-slope western shallower profile, lower-slope eastern deeper profile
• Within-parcel variation gives La Tâche broader stylistic range than Romanée-Conti's more uniform concentration
• Stylistic difference from Romanée-Conti at level of register breadth rather than register divergence

La Tâche produces wines of structural and aromatic complexity comparable to Romanée-Conti, with several distinctive characteristics that experienced critics use to distinguish the two appellations. La Tâche is frequently described as more aromatically complete than Romanée-Conti at certain vintages: the slightly larger vineyard footprint produces wines with a slightly broader aromatic palette (Romanée-Conti's intense focus is replaced by La Tâche's more sweeping aromatic register), and the wines often show more obvious aromatic complexity in young bottlings even when both show comparable structural concentration. Young wines (5-10 years from vintage) carry refined-yet-firm tannic structure with concentrated dark-fruited primary aromatics layered over expansive floral aromatic lift; mid-aged wines (10-25 years) develop integrated tannic structure with the primary fruit transitioning to secondary register and the aromatic complexity continuing to expand; mature wines (25-50+ years) develop full tertiary complexity comparable to Romanée-Conti with truffle, forest floor, leather, and the distinctive aromatic completeness that defines DRC's mature register. Top vintages have demonstrated 50+ year ageing trajectory in optimal cellar conditions, with mature bottles from 1929, 1945, 1959, 1971, 1978, 1990, 1999, 2005, 2010 considered among the most valuable mature Pinot Noir collectibles alongside the equivalent Romanée-Conti vintages. Commercial pricing positions La Tâche at approximately 40-50% of equivalent-vintage Romanée-Conti pricing for the same producer (DRC has set La Tâche release prices and auction valuations at consistently lower than Romanée-Conti to preserve the Romanée-Conti commercial mythology); release pricing typically runs €4,000-10,000 per bottle for current vintages, with auction prices for top mature vintages exceeding €10,000-25,000 per bottle.

• Frequently described as more aromatically complete than Romanée-Conti at certain vintages: broader aromatic palette + more obvious aromatic complexity in young bottlings
• Young wines (5-10 years): refined-yet-firm tannic + concentrated dark-fruited primary + expansive floral aromatic lift
• Mature wines (25-50+ years): full tertiary complexity comparable to Romanée-Conti with distinctive aromatic completeness defining DRC's mature register
• Commercial pricing ~40-50% of equivalent Romanée-Conti pricing; €4,000-10,000/bottle release; €10,000-25,000+ auction for top mature vintages

La Tâche's documented commercial history traces to medieval cultivation of the parcel under sharecropping and contract-tenancy arrangements typical of the 13th-14th century Burgundian vineyard project. The La Tâche name (literally the task or the piece) traces to medieval French à la tâche, a commercial commerce arrangement under which workers were paid by piece-rate or by contract-work rather than by hourly or daily labour; the parcel's name presumably reflects the medieval cultivation under such an arrangement, though the precise historical commercial commerce that gave the parcel its name is not preserved in surviving medieval documents. The Cluny Abbey held portions of the broader Vosne-Romanée vineyard project through the medieval period, with La Tâche likely included in various Cluny tenancy arrangements before the Revolutionary secularisation of 1791 dispersed the abbey's commercial holdings. After the 1791 dispersion, the La Tâche parcel passed through several lay owners before being acquired by the de Villaine family in 1933 and consolidated under DRC commercial structure. The 1933 consolidation followed the broader 20th-century DRC commercial commerce that progressively assembled the family's Vosne portfolio under a single commercial structure, with the contemporary DRC including La Tâche, Romanée-Conti, Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant, Échezeaux, Grands Échezeaux (since 1947), Corton (since 2009), and a small Le Montrachet holding (since 1963 lease, 2008 acquisition). The 1936 INAO classification confirmed La Tâche as a Grand Cru with the contemporary 6.06-hectare footprint, formally establishing the appellation status that defines contemporary commercial commerce.

• La Tâche name from medieval French à la tâche (piece-rate or contract-work arrangement); reflects medieval cultivation under sharecropping/contract-tenancy typical of 13th-14th century Burgundian vineyard project
• Cluny Abbey held portions of broader Vosne project through medieval period; La Tâche likely included in various Cluny tenancy arrangements
• Revolutionary secularisation 1791 dispersed abbey holdings; La Tâche through several lay owners until 1933 de Villaine acquisition + DRC consolidation
• 1936 INAO confirmed Grand Cru status with 6.06 ha footprint; broader DRC portfolio assembled across 20th century: La Tâche (1933), Grands Échezeaux (1947), Corton (2009), Le Montrachet (1963 lease/2008 acquisition)