? 1999 CdP - Question ?

A little help needed for a chateaunewbie. I havent had any CdP from 1999 other than Marcoux VV (which I loved) but noticed a few decently priced bottles around. From what I've read on the various fora, '99 wasnt the most highly regarded while some say traditionalists (like I tend to be) find the vintage more to their liking than someone that favors more lush/modern wines. I've also read some suggesting to skip the vintage entirely in favor of '98, 00, and '01.

Any generalist opinions here?

And in particular any TN's on 1999 regular Marcoux or Les Cailloux?

thanks

[Jenise]

Bill, I haven't read all the various forae you do, but I've tasted some 20 or 30 wines from the 98-01 vintrage of Southern Rhones, and the 99 and 01s consistently come out on top for me. I've had some from both 98 and 00 that I've liked, but have also met some that are jammy heavy or have too low acid. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I have never had either complaint about a 99 or 01.

1998-2001 was an excellent run for CdP IMO. I loaded my cellar with them, skipping 02 and 03, and now buying 04s. I can't imagine a CdP fan shunning the 99s.

1999 was a very good year. Les Cailloux is one of my favorite houses. Their 99 is drinking well now and will do so for several more years. It is my understanding that the grapes for the Cuvee Centenaire were used in the Cuvee Classique in 1999. It is a solid 90+ wine.

I never liked the Marcoux that much -- it is too "pretty" for my preference, having too much of that maraschino cherry component and not enough of the garrigue and pepper that I like (although I certainly will not turn down a glass).

Bill,
I've not drunk extensively of the '99s. One I've enjoyed which is drinking very nicely now is Chante Perdrix. They've been forward and delicious from the get-go and I've just about finished them all.

The '99 CdP notes I could find:

1999 Domaine Chante Perdrix Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (11/18/2006)
Again, a very pretty wine with forward red berries on nose and palate. Some earth emerges over time. Enough structure. Not much change from a year ago.

1999 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (11/26/2005)
Lovely nose of elegant grenache fruit, perfume, oak not obtrusive. After initial nice attack, finish a little short and rusty. Will plan to retry w dinner in several hours. In fact, several hours after decanting finish much longer and marred only by unresolved tannins. Continued ripe and firm until drained with dinner, about 10 hours after opening. Still young, and decant long time if drinking anytime soon.

1999 Domaine Chante Perdrix Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (10/5/2005)
As always, a easy/early drinking vintage with sweet red fruit, a little earth. Always enjoyable, if not typical CdP or typical Perdrix.

and the 99 and 01s consistently come out on top for me.

That really helps, Jenise. My "likes" usually fall in line pretty well with yours.

I can't imagine a CdP fan shunning the 99s.

Shunning '99 CdP is all the rage on eGob.

I never liked the Marcoux that much -- it is too "pretty" for my preference

I've only had the VV and that was a really pure expression of grenache. I'm finding I prefer a grenache heavy CdP. I'll give Les Cailloux a shot. Thanks.

One I've enjoyed which is drinking very nicely now is Chante Perdrix. They've been forward and delicious from the get-go and I've just about finished them all.

Thanks, Charles. I'll look for that one too.

[Robin Garr]

Any generalist opinions here?

I thought the '99s were just fine when they passed through the pipeline (being a tannin pig, I usually taste at least a few current Chateauneufs as soon as they come off the boat), and as the others have said, they struck me as more "traditional" - and hence to my liking - than '98 or '00. They were in current release when I toured the Southern Rhone in 2001, and I drank a lot of them then.

That said, I looked at but passed over a '99 Bois de Boursan for Christmas dinner (hand-carried back from that '01 visit, in fact), figuring there's a better-than-even chance of it not quite emerging from its down period yet, although with the eighth year after the vintage coming up, they ought to be coming back soon.

Heck, 1999 was a very good CdP year, sometimes overlooked because 1998, 2000 and 2001 are generally considered outstanding. So far I've been thinking I might start drinking some of my few 2000s as early as two or three years from now, before the other three vintages, although I'm just guessing. (Parker is no help as his predictions more often than not are something on the order of "drink now to 2090.")

I recall there was one year in the late 1990s where there was disasterous flooding in the southern Rhone that pretty much wiped out the harvest, and those who were able to salvage something had bad quality. Which year was that?

-Paul W.

Paul, I believe you are thinking of 2002 -- the S. Rhone was deluged with rain and floods at harvest. It is generally considered the worst vintage since 1997.

I remember being in Burgundy, tasting along with a wine merchant, when news of bad flooding in the Rhone came to us. That had to be prior to 2001. Maybe 1997?

I do recall the big flood in 2002 that you mentioned. That was even worse than the year I was thinking of.

-Paul W.

Shunning '99 CdP is all the rage on eGob.

Then there is a very good chance I will like them just fine.
Curley

[David M. Bueker]

I went long in every vintage from '98 to '01, and of all of them the '99s are drinking the best now. A '99 Vieux Telegraph was jut lovely in September 2005, and the Bousquet des Papes Chante le Merle is a fruity but woodsy wine right now.

Vieux Donjon and Clos du Mont Olivet are also drinking well, as are the Domaine de Solitude cuvees.

Thanks everyone. Yet again, the more I learn about wine, the more I realize how much more I need to learn.

David, thanks for the specific tips. I've seen Vieux Donjon and Mont Olivet kicking about.