Decanted for 3 hours. As noted below a fair bit of funk upfront but this calms with time in the glass. Bright red fruit and tons of plum with a solid core of minerality. Not super complex but a nice claret just entering it's drinking window. Finishes with some dusty textured tannins although I've noticed this a few times recently with the '99's. Overall a classicly styled wine in a classic vintage. Reminds me of what a deal this wine was before they shifted to the mordern end of the spectrum.
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This bottle opened with more panache. Dark cork, tint of brown around the edges but still plenty of color and life. Nose has a touch of funk but a surprising amount of fruit to it. Structure has mostly eroded but leaves some minerality late palate. I like the strawberry, cassis, tobacco notes. Served right out of the cellar at 55 degrees so the finish feels clipped but that may soften over time.
An hour in, the nose is developed and alive - Dark berry with a touch of acidity. Dark flavors that hold some strength and minerality. Tannins have fully resolved and this bottle lives with a potent goodness of tobacco leaf and earthy spice.
Hard to believe this is the same wine I had a few months back.
The ABV is 12.5 and it shows but the flavors are still resplendent though light.
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Very good value (bought for about $20 in 2008). A little funk on the nose and palate but pleasant nevertheless. Not super complicated but nice. Tannins fully integrated.
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The line up: 2010 mazilly gevrey chambertin, 2009 petit Bocq saint estephe, 2006 canalicchio bdm, 2004 ciabot berton roggeri barolo reserva from mag, 1999 haut bergey pessac leognan. 2 bottles of each except the barolo. An interesting wine for me since I have very little experience with Bordeaux this old. Very nice nose, tannins really smooth, fairly complex and drinking very well. Came in 4th for most everyone but still well liked.
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Nose was quite woody and funky but eventually added some tobacco and earthy hints that folded neatly into the early palate of a barn and deciduous forest floor. Then the wine went oddly watery and finished with some oak and dark fruit. The watery experience seemed to disappear over time, and in general I am glad I had this experience.
The other tasters below capture some great insights.
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I have always thought that the 99s were underrated wines and many of them, I suspect, were drunk prematurely on those grounds. This is a beautifully mature wine full of Pessac soft, ripe, red fruits, sweet tobacco, and smokey minerality. The oak is fully integrated. A little nutty. Not the most complex wine but a complete package that delivers for the price. Drunk from the sommelier series.
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Some nice mature notes have started to develop, with gravel, earth and iron notes emerging along with red and dark fruits; There's a slight astringency on the finish that detracts from the wine overall; Still pretty solid
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One of the better bottles I had. Excellent value for money. Pretty earthy Pessac notes underline the elegant fruit mix and medium body. Thorough and reliable wine. Glad to have some more.
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No formal notes. This one is getting out of its midlife dip. Really joyous and fresh, and also showing its secondary flavour-profile very well. Nice one!
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Creamy bouquet with some overripe red fruits, tea and a little oak. Same impressions on the palate. Full bodied. Soft tannin and enough acidity. Seemed to be less over the top than last year, but certainly completely ready.
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Nose : blackcurrent, blackberry, cigarbox and tobacco. Hints of liquorice, wet autumn forest soil and toffee. In the mouth, the same fragrance are present. tannins are round and velvety, tertiary aromas are not overwelming andadd texture and complexity. There ia also a hint of eucalyptus, which is present on the finish. Overall very approachable and nice to drink wine, although not typical from Graves.
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The first thing that comes into mind when I smell it, is rust. The wine is fully mature. Still some red fruits, but this wine (or bottle?) is past its prime. Still pleasurable Pessac softness. If I had more bottles I would drink them before the year is over.
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Red and black fruits on the nose with a gentle touch of herbs & oak. Medium bodied. Lush palate entry. This is a well priced, early drinker that does not require bottle age.
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5/21/2020 - MattTM wrote:
Decanted for 3 hours. As noted below a fair bit of funk upfront but this calms with time in the glass. Bright red fruit and tons of plum with a solid core of minerality. Not super complex but a nice claret just entering it's drinking window. Finishes with some dusty textured tannins although I've noticed this a few times recently with the '99's. Overall a classicly styled wine in a classic vintage. Reminds me of what a deal this wine was before they shifted to the mordern end of the spectrum.
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7/19/2019 - Justinneal654 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This bottle opened with more panache. Dark cork, tint of brown around the edges but still plenty of color and life. Nose has a touch of funk but a surprising amount of fruit to it. Structure has mostly eroded but leaves some minerality late palate. I like the strawberry, cassis, tobacco notes. Served right out of the cellar at 55 degrees so the finish feels clipped but that may soften over time.
An hour in, the nose is developed and alive - Dark berry with a touch of acidity. Dark flavors that hold some strength and minerality. Tannins have fully resolved and this bottle lives with a potent goodness of tobacco leaf and earthy spice.
Hard to believe this is the same wine I had a few months back.
The ABV is 12.5 and it shows but the flavors are still resplendent though light.
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1/19/2019 - stephenv Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very good value (bought for about $20 in 2008). A little funk on the nose and palate but pleasant nevertheless. Not super complicated but nice. Tannins fully integrated.
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12/1/2018 - americanstorm Likes this wine: 90 Points
The line up: 2010 mazilly gevrey chambertin, 2009 petit Bocq saint estephe, 2006 canalicchio bdm, 2004 ciabot berton roggeri barolo reserva from mag, 1999 haut bergey pessac leognan. 2 bottles of each except the barolo.
An interesting wine for me since I have very little experience with Bordeaux this old. Very nice nose, tannins really smooth, fairly complex and drinking very well. Came in 4th for most everyone but still well liked.
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11/29/2018 - Justinneal654 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Nose was quite woody and funky but eventually added some tobacco and earthy hints that folded neatly into the early palate of a barn and deciduous forest floor. Then the wine went oddly watery and finished with some oak and dark fruit. The watery experience seemed to disappear over time, and in general I am glad I had this experience.
The other tasters below capture some great insights.
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4/22/2018 - txredgirl30 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious, full bodied, dry, balanced
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11/20/2017 - soyhead wrote:
Nose - Sweet tobacco, funky
Mouth - funky, sweaty barn, ripe cherry and plum, fully mature, hint of savory. drink now
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7/9/2016 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine: 88 Points
Tannins are fully resolved. But there are some green notes that come through that are not very pleasant.
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7/28/2015 - englishman's claret wrote: 91 Points
I have always thought that the 99s were underrated wines and many of them, I suspect, were drunk prematurely on those grounds. This is a beautifully mature wine full of Pessac soft, ripe, red fruits, sweet tobacco, and smokey minerality. The oak is fully integrated. A little nutty. Not the most complex wine but a complete package that delivers for the price. Drunk from the sommelier series.
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11/24/2014 - eluebchow wrote: 87 Points
Some nice mature notes have started to develop, with gravel, earth and iron notes emerging along with red and dark fruits; There's a slight astringency on the finish that detracts from the wine overall; Still pretty solid
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1/12/2013 - tubeman wrote: 90 Points
very nice....
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4/26/2012 - jkoenen wrote:
One of the better bottles I had. Excellent value for money. Pretty earthy Pessac notes underline the elegant fruit mix and medium body. Thorough and reliable wine. Glad to have some more.
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6/14/2011 - jkoenen wrote:
No formal notes. This one is getting out of its midlife dip. Really joyous and fresh, and also showing its secondary flavour-profile very well. Nice one!
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6/11/2010 - Zweder wrote: 85 Points
Creamy bouquet with some overripe red fruits, tea and a little oak. Same impressions on the palate. Full bodied. Soft tannin and enough acidity. Seemed to be less over the top than last year, but certainly completely ready.
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5/11/2010 - jkoenen wrote: flawed
Grab Bag Tasting @ my place (Netherlands): Corked
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4/19/2010 - jpijg wrote: 89 Points
Nose : blackcurrent, blackberry, cigarbox and tobacco. Hints of liquorice, wet autumn forest soil and toffee. In the mouth, the same fragrance are present. tannins are round and velvety, tertiary aromas are not overwelming andadd texture and complexity. There ia also a hint of eucalyptus, which is present on the finish.
Overall very approachable and nice to drink wine, although not typical from Graves.
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10/23/2009 - tubeman wrote: 90 Points
Very nice as it has appeared to be at it's peak. Kept evolving and tasted just as good 4 days later for the last glass.
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3/18/2009 - Zweder wrote: 83 Points
The first thing that comes into mind when I smell it, is rust. The wine is fully mature. Still some red fruits, but this wine (or bottle?) is past its prime. Still pleasurable Pessac softness. If I had more bottles I would drink them before the year is over.
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2/10/2009 - alamoave wrote: 90 Points
A tremendous bargain - great pessac earthiness combined with perfect fruit/tannin balance. Wish I had more.
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7/16/2004 - Jeff Leve wrote: 89 Points
Red and black fruits on the nose with a gentle touch of herbs & oak. Medium bodied. Lush palate entry. This is a well priced, early drinker that does not require bottle age.
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