1999 Maison Joseph Drouhin Musigny Grand Cru

The 1999 Musigny Grand Cru has an opulent, fruit-driven bouquet that is more precocious than the 2002. Red cherries, strawberry and truffle, plus more mineralité than vintages from the 1990s, for sure. The palate is marked by a supple rounded texture, silky smoothness and wonderful purity and panache toward the effervescent finish. This is a more flamboyant Musigny from Drouhin, and it carries it off extremely well. Tasted at the Drouhin Musigny vertical in London.

Stephen Tanzer described the 1999 Musigny Grand Cru from Drouhin as “classy juice” back in 2002 and I concur fifteen years later. There was some debate about whether there was a hint of TCA although I attributed it to leafiness, an extension of the “pepper” note remarked upon by Steve. It is sedated at first, beautifully defined with hints of black tea and undergrowth developing in tandem with the bright red fruit. What I admire the most is the finesse of this Musigny, not a common trait in 1999 compared to say, 2002. The pedigree of the vineyard shines through from start to finish, but you know that even after 18 years it is only on its first few chapters. Gorgeous to drink now but personally I would wait another few years to evolve more secondary characteristics. Tasted at Tin Dinh restaurant in Paris.