There are a whopping 30 barrels (approximately 750 cases) of the 1999 Cote Rotie. It boasts a saturated black/purple color as well as a glorious nose of over-ripe blackberries, cassis, violets, and vanillin. Unctuously-textured, unbelievably fat and dense, with a texture and richness not dissimilar from some of the profound 1947 Pomerols, this low acid wine is almost over the top, but so rich, concentrated, and pure it should provide head-turning levels of pleasure and joy for 20-25 years. A Patrick Lesec Selection (Paris fax # 011 33 1 42 84 38 22), various American importers, including Adventures in Wine, Daly City, CA; tel. (415) 467-0130, Atlantic Importing Co., Newton, MA; tel. (617) 965-2933, Fine Vines LLC, Maywood, IL; tel. (708) 343-5901, and New Castle Imports, Myrtle Beach, SC; tel. (843) 497-8625

Ruby-purple color. Multidimensional nose combines crushed dark berries, violet, bacon fat, flowers, mint, leather and spices; essence of Cote-Rotie. Great flavor intensity and class on the palate; exhilarating notes of dark berries, mocha, iron and minerals, plus a soupcon of young syrah vegetility. Lush and seamless. Finishes with utterly suave tannins and great palate-staining persistence. This cuvee features juice from five different sources, yet the wine is already harmonious.

Sourced from old vines located in “Landonne” and matured in 36% new oak. From a magnum, the ’99 has a typical nose, garrigue, Provencal herbs, liquorice and a touch of burnt wood. The palate is still very tight and backward, incredibly intense and powerful although not over-bearing. I would not touch this for another few years. Tasted October 2006. Drinking 2012-2016

Very very heavy bottle. Négociant clearly stated on the label. Dark ruby. Lovely, mature, pongy, aged Syrah. A hint of rubber and lots of black pepper. Quite a bit of both salt and acidity. Very fine tannins. Very elegant. But it definitely needs food!