| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Burgundy > Côte de Nuits > Vosne-Romanée |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Vibrant, pure, spicy, distinctly floral and unusually high-toned for the vintage with big, powerful and concentrated almost to the point of painful intensity with its super ripe, palate staining flavors yet this remains regal, almost aloof and quite reserved on the hugely long finish. The focus is unbelievable and while it's hard to speak of subtle power, one can sense the vibrancy and depths of reserve that are still only hinted at now even eight years after the vintage. As seductive as the nose is and as awe-inspiring as the flavors are, the finish lasts literally for minutes, indeed I could still taste it the next day and I've noticed that this happens every time I am fortunate to have the '99. And, difficult as it is to believe, I'm beginning to think that my score is conservative.
Lucid ruby colour. Always the most difficult to assess young. The nose is all purity and elegance rather than power. Violets and plums. There is a note of wood that will be integrated in the next year which also comes through on the palate. Still very tight and backward. Ripe cherry and cranberry. Good acidity with an endless finish. Needs a good 15+ years. (576 cases produced) Tasted February 2002.
The medium to dark ruby-coloured Romanee Conti 1999 is mind boggling. It has a hugely expressive nose of super ripe black cherries, candied plums and violets. Full bodied and possessing a magnificent breadth of sweet, penetrating fruits, this is an unbelievably complex wine. It coats the palate with its velvet sweet cherries, jammy blackberries, and fruit-soaked tannin. Perfectly balanced and seamless, this gem has a remarkably long finish. This is a wine of exemplary precision, delineation, and power with undescribable class and refinement. Projected maturity: 2006 - 2020.
