Clos du Marquis, 1999

A sip of this and it confirms all my worst judgements about the

1999 vintage in Bordeaux: thick, low-acid, concentrated fruit wash. Mind you, this was not badly rendered at all (in fact, there were some nice blackcurrant, blackberry, and mineral flavors), but with the 99's I've been tasting makes me feel they grew up in California. In addition, all of them are drinking so well now I have doubts as to their agebillity and don't think they will live well enough to celebrate their 10th one in an elegant fashion. Here's one vintage for me to cross off the buying list, regardless of price. Give me some fruit acids! Is this too much to ask?? Without the balancing acidity, slogging through a botle of even excellent juice is hard work.

Mark S

Reply to
<mjsverei
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Hi Mark:

I agree with you, except for the parts where I disagree. :)

Haven't had the Clos du Marquis. But I would agree that for the most part 1999 is an early-drinking vintage. I have some wines that I think can easily do another decade ( Montrose, Leoville-Poyferre), but most are for the next 5 years (Siran, du Tertre, Gloria, etc). None are going to be 30 year wines. But I haven't noticed a particular trend towards low-acidity for the vintage. Maybe we've just tasted different wines. I'll pass if I see the CdM ! Dale

Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply

Reply to
Dale Williams

: Haven't had the Clos du Marquis. But I would agree that for the most part 1999 : is an early-drinking vintage. I have some wines that I think can easily do : another decade ( Montrose, Leoville-Poyferre), but most are for the next 5 : years (Siran, du Tertre, Gloria, etc). None are going to be 30 year wines. But : I haven't noticed a particular trend towards low-acidity for the vintage. Maybe : we've just tasted different wines. I'll pass if I see the CdM !

Dale, you *really* haven't noticed the low-acidities marking the 1999 vintage? In Bordeaux, it is more pronounced for me, because I'm used to the reds being balanced by more acidity, but this could be a modern trend as well since I am basing my experience on older (1980's and early 90's) models. But I feel the 1999 Germans have that same low(er) acidity, so I think it might be a vintage trait. The Clos du Marquis was not a bad wine, I simply felt it needed to be balanced better by acidity. I have some other 99's and hoping some of them will not be as flabby.

Mark S

Reply to
<mjsverei

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