Quality 925 | Brand 998 | Economics 959 | buzz brand
Quality: The highest Quality score in its peer group for the 1999 vintage, at 925 compared to a peer group average of 598 Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 44 of the world's top wine lists, including Lung King Heen Economics: More traded at auction than its peers, its top 5 vintages having seen 4,675 75cl equivalent bottles traded in the past year Production: Higher production than its peer group average of 112,956 bottles

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

It has been far too long since I last popped a cork on this treat. It takes no effort to find the blackberries, flowers, cigar box, 5 spice, smoke, licorice, and currants on the nose. With 45 minutes in the decanter, the wine is fully open on the nose and on the silky, fresh, elegant blend of black and red fruits with their spice-filled character. The wine is vibrant and refined with a nice shot of dark chocolate that comes in on the backend of the endnote. Drink from 2022-2040. Tasted Aug 2022

The 1999 Chateau Margaux has been the standout First Growth since I first tasted the wine from barrel. Now reaching its plateau of maturity, it has an understated nose at first, armed with impressive mineralité with a gorgeous graphite seam. The definition and precision here is top class. The palate is medium-bodied and smooth in texture, very harmonious and assured, surprisingly with some new oak still to be fully assimilated into the wine. The signature Margaux traits of crushed black cherries and violets comes through towards the finish, suggestions of raspberry reserve and desiccated orange peel enhancing the long finish. Perhaps I might temper my initial enthusiasm for the 1999 Château Margaux...but only slightly. It comes highly recommended. Tasted May 2016.

The 1999 Chateau Margaux is another overlooked vintage that transcends the growing season. This example, which is from an ex-château magnum, is delightful. It offers a slightly more fruit-driven, heartier bouquet than you would presuppose from a supposed mediocre season. Black fruit is laced with graphite and clove and blossoms with aeration while maintaining superb delineation. The palate is still youthful with seamlessly integrated oak, fine tannins and gorgeous black fruit tinged with tobacco and smoke. This First Growth has an effortless and unexpectedly sumptuous quality, and it will continue to drink well for another 20 or 25 years. Tasted at Trinity restaurant in December 2018.

Medium ruby. Expressive aromas of black raspberry, Cuban tobacco and grilled nuts; a bit more red fruit in character than either the 2000 or the 2001. Silky, seamless and enveloping, but the wine's excellent vinosity gives its creamy fruit very good definition. Consistent from start to finish. Tannins are substantial but fine, allowing the fruit and floral flavors to linger impressively. Along with Latour, an early candidate for the wine of the vintage.