1999 Clos Vougeot
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Tasting notes
(Etienne Grivot told me that this was a high-VA vintage for him; my sampled had been carafed for two hours): Good full red. Empyreumatic and balsamic aromas of plum, chocolate and graphite reminded me of a mature Pomerol on first sniff. A bit monolithic on the attack, then fine-grained but still tight in the middle palate--even a bit unyielding--compared to recent vintages of this bottling. Conveys a sexy iodiney minerality and good sweetness, as well as noteworthy energy, but still a bit more evolved than I would have thought. The tannins are slightly peppery and dusty compared to today's wines but give the wine a solid structural underpinning. Said Etienne Grivot: "1999 was at the very beginning of my modern period," adding that he changed his technique a bit in 2000 in search of wines that were a little less rigorous.
Critic scores
Average Score
Pierre Rovani
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Markedly deep crimson. Very, very rich and concentrated. Admirably complete. Quite hard work for the moment. Quite brutal. Very youthful though it is clear there is much to develop. Scents of chestnut. Bristling with ingredients forced into a bottle. (JR)
Interesting contrast of elegance and austerity with remarkably fine, intense, earthy fruit and structured flavors that offer excellent sève and solid structure. This will need time as it's presently closed and tight yet everything is here to permit it to age for at least a decade or more.
The ruby-colored 1999 Clos Vougeot has gorgeously spicy, pure, raspberry aromas. Medium-bodied and refined, it is a harmonious, gorgeously ripened, satin-textured offering. Asian spices are intermingled with currants, raspberries, and cherries in this sweet, tannin-packed wine. It is a feminine, precise, and pure Clos Vougeot to be drunk over the next 9 years. Importer: Seagram Chateau and Estate Wines Company, New York, NY; tel. (212) 572-7725.
About the producer
A benchmark name in Vosne-Romanée, Domaine Jean Grivot is one of Burgundy’s most respected estates. They have an impressive array of vineyards, including plots in Grand Cru Clos de Vougeot, Echezeaux and Richebourg.