1999 Clos du Marquis

Sep 29, 2003 2 Replies
D

Mark,



Low-acidity wasn't a defining part of the vintage to my mind. There were some wines I thought quite fat- mostly Right Bankers such as L'Angelus, Clos Fourtet, La Gomerie, La Tour Carnet. And a couple of Medocs like Pichon Baron. Most of those St. Emilions are definitely in a modern style, I attributed the low acidity to "Parkerization" as much as vintage.



But a variety of other Medocs- Leoville Poyferre, du Tertre, Montrose spring to mind- had acidity that fit my parameters for "normal" in Bordeaux.



To me, 1999 was a vintage characterized by light to moderate tannins, medium concentration of fruit, more aromatically advanced than most. All of those things mean that in most cases I'm drinking on early end. Low-acidity would make early drinking even more suggested. As I said before, the Montrose is only one I intend holding past it's 10th birthday (well, maybe a bottle of the Poyferre in the interest of science). PLans can change as I retaste in future, of course.



take care, Dale


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S

snipped-for-privacy@aol.com (Dale Williams) wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com:

Is there a case for saying the 1999s are quite good value, simply because everyone was waiting for the 2000, or have things sorted themselves out now.

I remember people saying that the '99 vintage was quite similar to the '97, and we are seeing some really excellent prices for those wines now. It was just a thought that floated past when I was reading this.

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D

As opening prices were down for '99s from orginal '97 & '98 levels, I thought they offered comparitively good values. I personally preferred 1999 as a whole to 1997, and probably to 1998 in the Médoc. I think '99s are a good buy *for near to mid term drinking*. Better fruit than 1997.

What prices will do? As 2000 is selling well despite high prices, 2001 is supposed to be pretty good, and some folks think (prematurely in my opinion)

2003 is going to be special, retailers might start dumping '99s soon. There are already some sales. But if anyone tells you with certainty they know what prices will do, borrow their crystal ball.

As always, vintage generalizations are just that. 1999 is spotty enough I'd be cautious at buying wines I knew nothing about, just based on prices.

If discounted, I would buy more 1999s of : Ch. du Tertre, I paid $16.99 , QPR winner Pape Clement ,not the big wine of the 2000, but a good deal in low 40s Fleur de Bouard, good $18 wine for now or next 5-8 years Beausejour-Becot -this WAS somewhat low-acid, but nice big ripe one. Mid-$30s Ch. Rouget - good Pomerol for price ($30?) Ste.-Colombe - already a deal in drink now Bdx for $11, if discounted jump on it. Leoville-Poyferre- this one could go a little while, $30 Montrose- best candidate for mid-term aging I've run across, $35

Interesting re Mark's comments on Clos du Marquis (which is almost a second wine). I found a comment re a tasting where I tasted a bunch of seconds, found them mostly lacking. Only '99 second I think I bought was La Chapelle de la Mission. Dale

Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply

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