WTN: Domaine Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanee "Aux Chaumes" 1999

This is quite lovely with a more than serious edge to its sappy and sexy fruit. Despite a lot of raps over the years, I've never really warmed to Etienne Grivot's somewhat "old fashioned" winemaking style. Probably my problem has been not to give these wines enough time in the cellar to mature and soften, as this wine is almost right on song presently with plenty of room for improvement. Immediately upon opening this wine reveals exciting sappy and savoury overtones to a deepset plum, cherry and earthy undercarriage. The palate delivers excellent weight although remains svelte and glides through the mouth and down the gullet with remarkable ease and great finesse. All the hallmarks of a very fine vintage are on show here - fine lacy tannins, vibrant acidity nicely integrated and balanced with ripe and relatively powerful pinot fruit. A long and satisfying finish has the necessary grip and authority to sustain this wine for another decade or more. 91 points. A very impressive effort from a middle-ranked premier cru vineyard.

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks for the note David. I've struggled with '99s that I have opened recently, as most seem sullen and stubborn. It's good to see that there might be light at the end of the tunnel.

I can attest to the vintage thumbprint to which you refer. This Grivot is a still youthful and, yes, needs more time, but I do like the direction in which it is heading. Reminds me of a cross of vintages 1993 and 1996.

Reminds me of a cross of vintages 1993 and 1996.

I always thought 99 was richer than either of those vintages. But I'm no expert.

I've never really warmed to Etienne Grivot's somewhat "old fashioned" winemaking style.

I always thought Grivot was criticized for using Accad, who was hardly an old-fashioned consultant. But he might have finished with him by 1999.

Reminds me of a cross of vintages 1993 and 1996.

I always thought 99 was richer than either of those vintages. But I'm no expert.

I've never really warmed to Etienne Grivot's somewhat "old fashioned" winemaking style.

I always thought Grivot was criticized for using Accad, who was hardly an old-fashioned consultant. But he might have finished with him by 1999.

I've always found the Grivot wine's I've purchased too "hard" and "tough" in their first decade (unlike Groffier, for instance), Rahsaan. Perhaps the use of the words "old fashioned" was somewhat ambigious.

Reminds me of a cross of vintages 1993 and 1996.

I always thought 99 was richer than either of those vintages. But I'm no expert.

I've never really warmed to Etienne Grivot's somewhat "old fashioned" winemaking style.

I always thought Grivot was criticized for using Accad, who was hardly an old-fashioned consultant. But he might have finished with him by 1999.

I've always found the Grivot wine's I've purchased too "hard" and "tough" in their first decade (unlike Groffier, for instance), Rahsaan. Perhaps the use of the words "old fashioned" was somewhat ambigious.

Well if Groffier is your baseline, sure, a lot of wines will seem hard and tough

But I'm no expert and have only tasted a handful of Grivot wines, so was just trying to see what you meant. Either way, it has me getting thirsty for Burgundy!