Bought a mixed case of this producer’s gear from a supposedly “frozen” container some years ago and what an eye-opener this excellent wine has turned out to be. The other point that needs to be made - I’ve yet to experience anything resembling a popped cork, one bad/off bottle or anything that’s still not going strong as an ox from the six cases (all 1999 reds - mostly Burgundy and Rhone) I purchased at the time.
This very fine red displays a maturing but healthy red/magenta colour, enticing scents of cranberry, redcurrant, green plum and oak spice with subtle hints of licorice, cinnamon stick, creosote, deli meats and road tar. The palate revels in mostly sweet plummy fruit with a beautiful fleshy mid-palate harbouring stone fruit, spicy oak, a flick of licorice and redcurrant. There’s sufficient acidity to maintain freshness/liveliness and the tannins still have a modicum of bite on a long fruit-driven departure. Lovely FWII - 90 points. Drink now - 2015.