1999 Domaine Raymond Usseglio Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Imperiale Vignes Centenaires
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Tasting notes
The 1999 Chateauneuf du Pape is still an enjoyable drink but seems to be moving past maturity. The color is bricking throughout, and the wine is marked by scents of dried cherries and dried leaves. It's medium to full-bodied but is starting to dry out on the finish. Drink up.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The top cuvee of old vines, the 1999 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale reveals a dense ruby-purple color, along with complexity in the nose (seaweed, balsam, ripe black cherries, and earth). Expansive and full-bodied, with noticeable tannin in the fabulous finish, this sumptuous, powerful 1999 is impressive, particularly in view of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: now-2018. Raymond Usseglio is at the top of his game and consumers should be pursuing his splendid wines. Importer: Peter Weygandt, Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel (610) 486-0800
Ruby-red. Aroma of red fruit liqueur. Sweet and nicely concentrated, with good volume but only modest nuance. Shows good freshness and fruit, but finishes with some youthfully tough tannins. Seems distinctly cleaner than a bottle of the '98 I tasted last year. However, my sample of the '99 Cuvee Imperiale was plagued by a raw wood quality that dried its finish.
About the producer
Domaine Raymond Usseglio is one of the leading producers of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, producing a number of different red and white cuvées from the appellation. The domaine’s most famous wine is their Châteauneuf-du-Pape Impériale, which comes exclusively from vines that are over 100 years old.