The dot com bubble was at its peak, the Euro just finished its first year and Bill Clinton got impeached. That was 1999 outside of Burgundy. In Burgundy, there was a legendary vintage with near-perfect growing conditions, producing wines that are both powerful and balanced with excellent aging potential. Warm summer days followed by cooler September nights allowed grapes to ripen fully while retaining balanced acidity, resulting in wines with concentrated fruit, ripe tannins, and impressive depth. As they age, these wines have developed complex aromas of red and black fruits, florals, earth, and spice, cementing their status among Burgundy’s finest. Now over two decades old, the best examples from this vintage continue to evolve, showcasing the exceptional longevity and character that make 1999 a benchmark year for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
The idea of this 1999, 25years on tasting came from Alex Nussbaumer founder of Vinsmotion. Alex generously offered wines from his personal collection to us at release prices. The wines showed well, you can drink them now, but due to their structure, similar to 2005, the Grand Crus can still be kept further.
Aperitiv wines
2020 Domaine de la Vougeraie Vougeot 1er Cru Clos Blanc de Vougeot 95 Points
Served as an aperitive bevore we dove into the red Burg 1999 horizontal. Everyone liked this wine. Corton Charlemagne style Grand Cru quality was a word that came out a lot. This wine combined generous lemon curd, flinty, citrus notes with a creamy palate and racy acidity. Rich and fresh at the same time. To drawer Chard.
1999 Jean Boillot & Fils Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles 94 Points
During a Burgundy 1999 tasting. Wow, what a nice, aged white Burg nose with ginger, lemon, mushrooms, earthy element. Good freshness still. Tertiary without being oxidative. A real treat 94+
Flight 1
1999 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Grèves Vigne de L’Enfant Jesus, 92 Points
During a Burgundy 1999 tasting. Really nice nose here in the red fruit spectrum with underbrush and spices. The palate is a little rusitc, good, but cannot fully follow-up from the promise of the nose.
1999 Domaine Ghislaine Barthod Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Véroilles, Flawed
Rustic with lots of asparagus and VA, not clean. Unfortunately not a representative bottle
1999 Gérard Mugneret Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Chaignots, 94 Points
Complex red fruit nose with leather. Elegant palate, airy. Indeed very elegant for an NSG.
Flight 2
1999 David Duband Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Procès, 92 Points
Nose of red fruit, cured meat, classic aged burgundy, some sour cherry. Tannins could be softer though.
1999 Domaine Jean Grivot Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Boudots, 90 Points
Savory nose, lightly oxidative and cooked. The palate is polished on the other hand. May be not the best bottle anymore.
1999 Domaine Aleth Girardin Pommard 1er Cru Rugiens-Bas, 90 Points
Dense, rustic, some Maggi notes. This was not nearly as good as the Epenots from the same producer.
Flight 3
1999 Domaine Aleth Girardin Pommard 1er Cru Les Épenots, 95 Points
Wonderful nose with earthy elements, licorice, dark fruit as well. Very elegant palate, good structure but melted and silky. Very harmonious and runner up out of 14 wines. Nice surprise.
1999 Domaine Drouhin-Laroze Chapelle-Chambertin, 92 Points
Reductive, compressed, felt like it lacked oxygen somewhere in the production process. Opened up only marginally with air. Decent but a clear miss given this is a GC.
1999 Gérard Mugneret Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots, 93 Points
Earthy notes, some luvage aromas pointing towards oxidation. Rich palate dense, but with good acidity and structure supporting it.
Flight 4
1999 Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots, 96 Points
Wonderful tertiary nose here in the red current, cured meat, sous-bois and Vosne spice spectrum. Elegant palate. This was the WOTN out of 14 wines.
1999 Sylvie Esmonin (Michel et Fille) Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques, 93 Points
Earthy nose with some maggy notes, touch of dark chocolate. Savory, but with soft tannins.
1999 Domaine Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts, 95 Points
Elegant with red fruit, soubois, spices. Elegant, mature burgundy with lots of glorious tertiary notes. This finished in the top 3 out of 14 wines.
Flight 5
1999 Domaine Ghislaine Barthod Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras 92 Points
More in the dark fruit spectrum, a touch of heat. Good complexity though.
1999 Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays, 93 Points
A touch of brett, smoky, polished tannins, this had generous oak.
1999 Bouchard Père et Fils Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Reignots, 89 Points
Muted nose, lots of dark fruit, youthful. Extracted and tannis, this is really overworked and a missed opportunity. Comte Liger-Belair makes much better wines luckily now after he retook the plot.
Author: Christian Raubach, WSET III, FWS, WSG Champagne Master
September 2014