1 dozen bottles per lot
Details
Chambertin--Vintage 1999
Côte de Nuits, Rousseau
In original carton
1999 Burgundy Vintage Report
1999 is undoubtedly one of Burgundy's finest recent vintages for red wines. It may be compared with 1990 and 1985 for richness, ripe fruit and luscious balance. The foundation of quality was laid down thanks to a fine flowering of the vines, which went through early and well, promising a large crop. Most significantly, it meant that all grapes in a given bunch would reach maturity at the same moment.
The practise of green harvesting - cutting off excess bunches - was well established in the region by the late 1990s. During July and August 1999, the best estates carefully pruned excess production, regularising the weight of fruit on each vine. Prior to the harvest starting on the Côte de Beaune, there were four weeks of great weather, without rain, which helped bring bunches to healthy, perfect maturity.
A heavy rainstorm on 24 September caused some cellar-flooding on the Côte de Nuits, and initially there was disquiet that late-pickers might find that the downpour would have damaging effects on quality. But the effects of the fine summer were permanent. Superbly rich wines of magnificent balance and potential have been produced on both Côtes.
Bottle-age has confirmed the initial enthusiasms. It is worth remembering that many 1999 reds are presently going through an adolescent phase - common to many great wines - when they have lost their youthful beauty, but not yet fully matured. There is no hurry to check them out, or drink them up. They have dense fruit concentrations, good structure and rich, ripe tannins. In many cases, they have more charm and fruitiness than the 1990s, with more long-term potential for ageing than the 1985s.
Anothny Hanson, MW
"Fantastically complex with super dense, concentrated fruit blended with an
incredible array of spices and flavors that have really beautiful depth, complexity and length. This is not a particularly huge wine but the sheer complexity and class combine to create a simply knock out Chambertin, worthy of every accolade reserved for the very best in Burgundy. Really lovely stuff in a forward style." Burghound
1 dozen bottles per lot
Côte de Nuits, Rousseau
In original carton
1999 Burgundy Vintage Report
1999 is undoubtedly one of Burgundy's finest recent vintages for red wines. It may be compared with 1990 and 1985 for richness, ripe fruit and luscious balance. The foundation of quality was laid down thanks to a fine flowering of the vines, which went through early and well, promising a large crop. Most significantly, it meant that all grapes in a given bunch would reach maturity at the same moment.
The practise of green harvesting - cutting off excess bunches - was well established in the region by the late 1990s. During July and August 1999, the best estates carefully pruned excess production, regularising the weight of fruit on each vine. Prior to the harvest starting on the Côte de Beaune, there were four weeks of great weather, without rain, which helped bring bunches to healthy, perfect maturity.
A heavy rainstorm on 24 September caused some cellar-flooding on the Côte de Nuits, and initially there was disquiet that late-pickers might find that the downpour would have damaging effects on quality. But the effects of the fine summer were permanent. Superbly rich wines of magnificent balance and potential have been produced on both Côtes.
Bottle-age has confirmed the initial enthusiasms. It is worth remembering that many 1999 reds are presently going through an adolescent phase - common to many great wines - when they have lost their youthful beauty, but not yet fully matured. There is no hurry to check them out, or drink them up. They have dense fruit concentrations, good structure and rich, ripe tannins. In many cases, they have more charm and fruitiness than the 1990s, with more long-term potential for ageing than the 1985s.
Anothny Hanson, MW
"Fantastically complex with super dense, concentrated fruit blended with an
incredible array of spices and flavors that have really beautiful depth, complexity and length. This is not a particularly huge wine but the sheer complexity and class combine to create a simply knock out Chambertin, worthy of every accolade reserved for the very best in Burgundy. Really lovely stuff in a forward style." Burghound
1 dozen bottles per lot