Vinous (91)

Complex, subtle nose combines lime, smoke, minerals, nuts and earth. A distinct step up in texture and concentration from the premier crus; fresh, nicely delineated and solidly structured. Classy and light on its feet. Finishes subtle and long, and not at all austere for a '99.

Jancis Robinson (18.5)

‘An exceptional year’, with a dry winter, fresh spring, good flowering. Mild summer with a cloudy July and August, and a hot, sunny September. Bright garnet. Pale rim. Broad and rich with a minty note. More mainstream than many in terms of its build and flavours. Still evolving but beautifully balanced. Lots of energy and transparency. No heaviness at all. Rich but lifted. Already gorgeous but there are tannins behind the exotic fruit and brilliant freshness. Still quite youthful.

James Suckling (98)

Wow. The center palate to this is superb with superb fruit and density. Full body, incredible density yet so balanced and harmonious. Blackcurrants and blackberries come the fore here. The length and beauty are so great. Class in the glass. Could it better 1998 in the long term? This was a little overlooked by many.

The Pajzos Tokaji Essencia 1999 is an exquisite wine of unprecedented depth and complexity. Expertly crafted at Pajzos Estate in the historic region of Tokaj, Hungary, this opulent wine represents the pinnacle of Tokaji production. The Essencia is made from botrytised or 'nobly' rotten grapes, meticulously hand selected and traditionally matured in oak barrels. Lifetimes of winemaking practice and generational knowledge marry in an exquisite symphony in every bottle.

The 1999 vintage is outstanding, benefiting from the ideal climatic conditions allowing a sublime balance of richness and acidity. There is a luscious sweetness, liquid silk in a glass, streaked through with a vibrant, citrus-tinged acidity, offering layers of honeyed apricot, dried fig, caramel and cappuccino on the palate. Critics champion Pajzos Tokaji Essencia 1999 as a luxurious collectable and spellbinding sensory journey. An absolute gem for any serious wine aficionado's collection.

Vinous (92)

Good full red. Deep, highly scented nose combines dried rose, smoke and tobacco. Silky, tactile and thick; offers an unusually lush texture and a compelling combination of red fruits and smoky oak. An expansive, very ripe wine with a long, mouthcoating aftertaste.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92-94)

Full ruby. Blackberry, kirsch, espresso and menthol aromas exude a compelling sappy sweetness; leesy suggestions of musky espresso and roasted meat give the nose a Burgundian aspect. Superripe, thick and suave; this is consistent from start to finish in a way that just a couple '99s from the Medoc can match. Really expands in the mouth. Finishes with big but noble tannins (Perse described the polyphenol levels as "huge") that reach the entire palate. Comes across as much less oaky today than the '98, or is it simply that here the wood is more successfully integrated? Compelling sweetness of fruit without any loss of soil character. Along with Le Pin and Ausone, my early favorite for best wine of the right bank in '99.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92-94)

Full ruby. Blackberry, kirsch, espresso and menthol aromas exude a compelling sappy sweetness; leesy suggestions of musky espresso and roasted meat give the nose a Burgundian aspect. Superripe, thick and suave; this is consistent from start to finish in a way that just a couple '99s from the Medoc can match. Really expands in the mouth. Finishes with big but noble tannins (Perse described the polyphenol levels as "huge") that reach the entire palate. Comes across as much less oaky today than the '98, or is it simply that here the wood is more successfully integrated? Compelling sweetness of fruit without any loss of soil character. Along with Le Pin and Ausone, my early favorite for best wine of the right bank in '99.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90-91)

Full ruby-red. Bright, fruit-driven aromas of raspberry, plum and cassis, with a floral nuance. Concentrated, primary and strong in extract; shows impressive texture and depth for the year. Finishes persistent and minerally, with substantial tannins supported by the wine solid middle-palate material. A strong showing.

Wine Advocate (94)

This wine is turning out much in the style of such wonderful Petrus vintages as 1967 and 1971. Although not as outstanding as either the 1998 or 2000, it displays beautiful intensity and finesse in a more evolved style than one normally expects from this estate. The wine has a dense, nearly opaque ruby/purple color, sweet black cherry, mulberry, truffle-infused fruit, full body, low acidity, admirable purity, and sweet tannin. It should be ready to drink in 5-6 years, and will last for two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030. Only 2,400 cases were produced.

Wine Advocate (94)

This wine is turning out much in the style of such wonderful Petrus vintages as 1967 and 1971. Although not as outstanding as either the 1998 or 2000, it displays beautiful intensity and finesse in a more evolved style than one normally expects from this estate. The wine has a dense, nearly opaque ruby/purple color, sweet black cherry, mulberry, truffle-infused fruit, full body, low acidity, admirable purity, and sweet tannin. It should be ready to drink in 5-6 years, and will last for two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030. Only 2,400 cases were produced.

Wine Advocate (94)

This wine is turning out much in the style of such wonderful Petrus vintages as 1967 and 1971. Although not as outstanding as either the 1998 or 2000, it displays beautiful intensity and finesse in a more evolved style than one normally expects from this estate. The wine has a dense, nearly opaque ruby/purple color, sweet black cherry, mulberry, truffle-infused fruit, full body, low acidity, admirable purity, and sweet tannin. It should be ready to drink in 5-6 years, and will last for two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030. Only 2,400 cases were produced.

Wine Advocate (94)

This wine is turning out much in the style of such wonderful Petrus vintages as 1967 and 1971. Although not as outstanding as either the 1998 or 2000, it displays beautiful intensity and finesse in a more evolved style than one normally expects from this estate. The wine has a dense, nearly opaque ruby/purple color, sweet black cherry, mulberry, truffle-infused fruit, full body, low acidity, admirable purity, and sweet tannin. It should be ready to drink in 5-6 years, and will last for two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030. Only 2,400 cases were produced.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 1999 Clos des Goisses flows from the glass with the essence of minerals, chalk, smoke, ash, white peaches, pears, flowers and sweet oak. This is a muscular, powerful wine that needs serious bottle age to come around, yet it possesses striking clarity and detail in its aromatics and flavors. Clos des Goisses is one of the most rewarding wines to drink when mature, and I have no doubt this will be another splendid version. This refined, sumptuous wine is not to be missed. Clos des Goisses is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, and 30% of the wine was fermented in oak. This bottle was disgorged in March 2007. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2024.

Wine Spectator (90)

A beauty. Violet, mineral, berry and currant aromas. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a lovely finish. Fine wine; much better than the '98. Score range: 88-90

Wine Advocate (92-93)

Produced from a parcel located on the extreme northern end of its vineyard, just below Domaine Armand Rousseau's, Pierre Damoy's 1999 Chambertin was harvested at 32 hectoliters per hectare. It is medium to dark ruby-colored and reveals licorice, sweet cherry, blackberry, toasted oak, and spice flavors. This full-bodied wine has huge concentration to its rich and intense character. It is highly structured and youthfully austere, yet loaded with powerful black fruits and a strong oak influence. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2013+.

Wine Enthusiast (96)

With its richness and great density of flavor, this is always a great Champagne. This 1999 is rounder than some vintages, less mineral, while still retaining the balance between white fruit and toast. It is still young, still tightly textured and ageworthy over several years.

Wine Advocate (98)

This was a magical bottle of the 1999 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Vieilles Vignes, a wine that's just beginning to hit its stride as it approaches its 20th birthday, unfurling in the glass with aromas of red berries, cassis, dark chocolate, cinnamon, dried rose petals and orange rind. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and immensely concentrated, with a broad attack, lovely acids and a formidable reserve of creamy old-vine fruit, structured around a chalky chassis of tannin that evokes the great old Burgundies of yesteryear. Concluding with a long and expansive finish, this is still a young wine, and another two decades of aging won't be a problem. But it's now clear that this ranks as one of Ponsot's greatest recent hits—and one of the high points of this reputed vintage.

The Pride Mountain Napa and Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 is a truly exquisite vintage, masterfully crafted by Pride Mountain Vineyards. Situated high atop Spring Mountain District that transcendently straddles Napa and Sonoma counties, this winery is acclaimed for its exceptional, full-bodied Cabernets. The sought-after 1999 blend reveals a harmonious unity of robust, multifaceted flavours. Decant this vintage to appreciate the intense, inky-purple hue, accompanied by captivating aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco, and fine-grain oak.

Immaculately fermented, this wine showcases the rich, high-quality grapes, nurtured from the estate’s unique, high-elevation vineyards. The Pride Mountain Napa and Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 offers an unforgettably velvety palate, where ripe plum, cherry, and dark chocolate notes merge with articulated tannins to proffer a long, complex finish. This vintage epitomises the winemaking craftsmanship that has positioned Pride Mountain Vineyards as a premier producer in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

The Pride Mountain Napa and Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 is a truly exquisite vintage, masterfully crafted by Pride Mountain Vineyards. Situated high atop Spring Mountain District that transcendently straddles Napa and Sonoma counties, this winery is acclaimed for its exceptional, full-bodied Cabernets. The sought-after 1999 blend reveals a harmonious unity of robust, multifaceted flavours. Decant this vintage to appreciate the intense, inky-purple hue, accompanied by captivating aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco, and fine-grain oak.

Immaculately fermented, this wine showcases the rich, high-quality grapes, nurtured from the estate’s unique, high-elevation vineyards. The Pride Mountain Napa and Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 offers an unforgettably velvety palate, where ripe plum, cherry, and dark chocolate notes merge with articulated tannins to proffer a long, complex finish. This vintage epitomises the winemaking craftsmanship that has positioned Pride Mountain Vineyards as a premier producer in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

Vinous (98)

The 1999 Montrachet Grand Cru from Domaine Jean-Claude Ramonet was my pick of the three wines, a stunning expression of this vineyard. Limpid silver in hue with green tints, the wine offers a bouquet that is ineffably complex and bursts with energy. The mineralité is palpable, which is some achievement given the warmth of that growing season. Scents of hazelnut and black currant leaf appear with a couple of hours in the glass. The palate is intense and supremely well balanced, balancing tiptoe on an absolute killer line of acidity with hints of gunflint and bitter lemon toward the astonishingly persistent finish. This flirts with perfection.

Vinous (91+)

Medium red-ruby. Smoky redcurrant nose, with hints of game, leather and pepper; surmuri notes of dried fruits. Fat but quite fine; less sweet and fruit-driven today than the Pignan but more complex, more serious. This has solid structure for aging. The Pignan always tastes better young than Rayas, Reynaud points out.

Vinous (91+)

Medium red-ruby. Smoky redcurrant nose, with hints of game, leather and pepper; surmuri notes of dried fruits. Fat but quite fine; less sweet and fruit-driven today than the Pignan but more complex, more serious. This has solid structure for aging. The Pignan always tastes better young than Rayas, Reynaud points out.

Vinous (87)

Ruby-red. Aroma of red fruit liqueur. Sweet and nicely concentrated, with good volume but only modest nuance. Shows good freshness and fruit, but finishes with some youthfully tough tannins. Seems distinctly cleaner than a bottle of the '98 I tasted last year. However, my sample of the '99 Cuvee Imperiale was plagued by a raw wood quality that dried its finish.

Regnard Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 1999 is an exquisite, mature Burgundian Chardonnay produced in the celebrated Premier Cru vineyards of the Côte de Beaune. This grand vin owes its elegance to Maison Regnard, one of Chablis' oldest houses, whose production is steeped in tradition yet underpinned by modern winemaking techniques. Harvested by hand and aged in oak for a minimum of 18 months, the richly flavoured green-gold vintage embodies eloquence in a bottle.

Its full-bodied palate reveals balanced acidity and a complexity that only comes from well-aged wine, intermingling flavours of ripe pears, honey, almonds and earthy undertones. The finish lingers, soft and buttery yet with a hint of minerality typical of Chardonnay's of this calibre. Experts laud Regnard Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru 1999 as a testament to Regnard's exceptional traditional winemaking practices, a true masterpiece that is testament to one of Burgundy's proudest heritages.