1999 Pierre Usseglio "Mon Aieul" - not a tasting note

I don't know what to make of this wine. No explosive fruit nose that I expected. It is definitely off, maybe corked, but I'm not sure. I was so disappointed, I went and opened a second bottle, and it, too, suffered from the same flaw. It was sour - "what is grapefruit doing in my Chateauneuf du Pape?" I have only heard raves about this wine, but there will be no raving (except in anger) for the ones I opened. Bummer!

It sounds like damaged bottles. It is a very good wine.

Wow! I have some of this. I guess I'll have to put one in the tasting queue and check it out. Thansk for the heads up!
-Dave-

It was sour - "what is grapefruit doing in my Chateauneuf du Pape?" I have only heard raves about this wine, but there will be no raving (except in anger) for the ones I opened. Bummer!

Diane--I'm no expert on CdP, but according to a few sources (including Robin), the wine frequently shuts down between (roughly) the fifth and seventh years after vintage. Meaning, I guess, you might be better off trying it before it turns five or after it turns eight. Some tasters say the '98 CdPs, for example, are just now starting to come to. Your bottles may have indeed been flawed, but sourness could also be a function of wine that's shedding its youthful fruit but hasn't yet picked up secondary nuances, leaving it acidic but perhaps flavor-deficient. The fact that your two bottles showed so similarly might support my guess. If you've got more bottles, don't give up hope. And FWIW, I don't know (and believe me, I've asked) of any sources for dumb-phase rules of thumb that apply to other red wines, although the Johnson/Robinson World Atlas of Wine shows a suggestive drinkability chart for Bordeaux with a dip around age seven.

Dave - let me know.

Clinton - my understanding is that the 1999 CdPs have not closed down, and are early drinkers. I had an outstanding 1999 Clos du Caillou Les Quartz last week, and a 1999 Pegau a couple of months ago that was gorgeous. These 2 Mon Aieuls were perplexing. Sadly, I don't have any others.

Diane, I agree. The 1999s I have had have not shut down, and are really quite nice now. As you say, the 99 Pegau is wonderful, and I remember reading someplace that Laurence said she did not think it would ever shut down. Also, the 99 Bois de Boursan regular cuvee is gorgeous.
I have no experience with the Usseglio, but do you suppose there is a possibility you have a counterfeit there? It doesn't sound either corked or cooked to me.....

Counterfeit? I don't think so. I purchased it from Calvert Woodley in Washington DC, and they are listed on the back of the bottle as the importer. I'm considering contacting them.