Open Mike: 1999 Bordeaux

[Jenise]

Fixed your photo. To not get all that white area, your last intruction should be to select the box called: Place Inline. That takes care of it.

Re the wine, Covert, I was sure hoping that Jim would have a different result, as then I could have more hope for my remaining bottles, but the truth is I'm not surprised based on the last bottle I had, which I reported on, about last summer. I thought it fading then and said as much, but others with more experience (and possibly better provenance on their bottles) expressed disagreement, so I remained in hopes of some improvement. But it's just not there. Not in my bottles, anyway.

Fixed your photo. To not get all that white area, your last intruction should be to select the box called: Place Inline. That takes care of it.

Re the wine, Covert, I was sure hoping that Jim would have a different result, as then I could have more hope for my remaining bottles, but the truth is I'm not surprised based on the last bottle I had, which I reported on, about last summer. I thought it fading then and said as much, but others with more experience (and possibly better provenance on their bottles) expressed disagreement, so I remained in hopes of some improvement. But it's just not there. Not in my bottles, anyway.

Thanks, Jenise, for fixing the expression. And yes you did!, re the expectation. I have been reading about the nature of premonitions and probably misapplied what I have been considering. I was trying to get the wine without prejudice, and didn't tell Lynn (directly, I would assume she can read all kinds of clues from me) what I was hoping I was not right about. I would have loved to have found out that my prejudices about that property belonged to an old mindset that I no longer carried around.

Now, in reverse, I almost can’t believe that I just received a case of Bordeaux at my door which cost in total, with tax and shipping, $95.64. This comes out to $7.97 a bottle, delivered. A surly Middle Eastern FedEx man put it down on the porch, instead of handing it to Lynn, or putting it inside the door, and stepped over it to get her to sign for it. No matter. 2007 Chateau Mayne Grand Pey Bergerac. I have a premonition that I am going to love it, and visit the hamlet whence it came. The cheapest Bordeaux I ever bought. I will report on it.

But then this today from CT. And from a 375 that by all rights should show faster development. Now I'm really confused.

1999 Château Léoville Barton (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien)

Tasted by cgrimes on 5/17/2010 & rated 94 points: Tasted from a 375ml bottle. Deep ruby color with hints of bricking on the edges. Beautiful nose of blackberries, cassis, stones, some earth and barnyard. Similar on the palate. Very well balanced with good fruit, minerality, acidity, and tannic structure. This wine seems to be in a great place right now if you like your Bordeaux with the strength and fruit of youth and the beginnings of the secondary characteristics associated with maturity

[Jenise]

@ Covert: Nice deal on the Bergerac. I've had some truly great wines from that appellation but they fly under the radar of most American wine buyers who don't consider 'Bergerac' to be Bordeaux. Re the LB and your relationship with the property, the '99 is is no way typical--see Jim's note, and I agree with him--of what I've loved about LB and should not be used to prove one way or the other your feelings about it. I've had LB's that I have to say I know, KNOW, you would have loved. Which reminds me that I have another magnum of the '97 laying about here....

@ Jim: now that IS confusing. Wonder if you and I got ours from the same source, and if they were similarly advanced or something? Now wait, though, that doesn't make sense: cgrimes (who is very experienced, I've seen his/her notes many times on CT though I don't know who it is) reports secondary development which you and I didn't see much potential of. Yet our wines aren't cooked or otherwise showing signs of damage.

[David M. Bueker]

Ok, I am renting a backhoe this weekend (or more likely next) & digging out a bottle of '99 barton. I will report back as soon as I can.

@ Jim: now that IS confusing. Wonder if you and I got ours from the same source, and if they were similarly advanced or something? Now wait, though, that doesn't make sense: cgrimes (who is very experienced, I've seen his/her notes many times on CT though I don't know who it is) reports secondary development which you and I didn't see much potential of. Yet our wines aren't cooked or otherwise showing signs of damage.

My last bottle, the one I was not too happy with, was from WineBid... all my others have been sourced all over the place. And no mine was not cooked nor did it have any low level TCA. It was just lacking in structure and balance and seemingly stuck in some sort of acid/tannic state without many redeeming features.

David.. your input would be helpful, no doubt. Dig away!!

I have a lone bottle of '99 Gruaud Larose and have read a few negative comments about its evolution. It seems that I may have waited too long to enjoy this at its best. I will open soon, unless someone can convince me to be patient. Still sounds like a nice wine, but mere shadow of what it was just a year ago. We will see. Any help would be appreciated. TIA!

Ok, I am renting a backhoe this weekend (or more likely next) & digging out a bottle of '99 barton. I will report back as soon as I can.

Should I open one too? It doesn't sound as if I am going to enjoy it and, if cgrimes is right with his half bottle, there may be more joy down the road .

BTW Richard, did you see my note above on Gruaud 99?

The best 1999 Bordeaux I have had in a while was a Vieux Chateau Certan. Chambord like, earth, band aid in the background with a lingering finish made for a good wine, albeit on the lighter side with low acid. A Bordeaux I could actually drink with fish.

I forgot to keep up with this. I am continuing to drink up my 1999s. From last weekend, the Sociando Mallet is wonderful. Deep, complex nose, perfect left bank cassis, but short on finish, which isn't characteristic of a classed growth, which some folks think it is equal to. Interestingly a 1996 Sociando seemed a little tired, which was totally unexpected. We will try another one very soon, since I have a few of them; keeping them like they were Ducru Beaucaillou or something, possibly stupidly. Clos de 'lOratoire is delicate, elegant and lovely. Most 1999s have held up very nicely and are near peak for me.