wine bottle

1999 Chateau Cantemerle

By Chateau Cantemerle

1999 Chateau Cantemerle from Chateau Cantemerle, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux

The Millennium brought a wave of excitement and change, not least reflected in the remarkable vintages of that pivotal year, including the laudable 1999 Chateau Cantemerle from Chateau Cantemerle. Observations on this particular vintage reveal an extraordinary showcase of what the Haut-Medoc terroir can offer under favourable auspices.

 

A Vintage Worth Savouring

While not universally hailed as 'the vintage of the century', there is an enchanting quality about the 1999 Chateau Cantemerle that belies blanket vintage assessments. It is a testament to the meticulous vine management and astute barrique ageing implemented by the ever-impressive Chateau Cantemerle team.

 

Provocative Complexity and Elegance

The 1999 vintage articulates a sophisticated interplay of ripe cassis and blackberry notes, which form the bedrock of its aromatic profile. There is a discernible herbal vivacity—an echo of thyme and bay—even now as the wine approaches its third decade. These aromatic adornments rest on a well-structured palate that brings forth a fine-grained tannin presence and an agile acidity, ensuring that each sip lingers with grace and intention.

Tasting this wine now reveals its transition into a stage showcasing secondary characteristics; one might find their senses entwined in nuances of leather, tobacco, and a hint of truffle. This medium-bodied wine continues to offer surprising vitality and can indisputably uphold the mantle as one of the more intriguing representations from its appellation in fine wine investment portfolios.

As investors continually scout for wines with provenance and steadiness in market value growth, the vintage-specific allure of the 1999 Chateau Cantemerle becomes all the more enticing. Its poised evolution resonates with seasoned collectors and novices alike.

 

A Sumptuous Investment

In conclusion, engaging with the subtleties of this 1999 gem from Chateau Cantemerle reveals an experience enriched by time—a reflection on how some wines truly embody their narrative year. Its pleasant maturity intertwines seamlessly with burgeoning complexity, reinforcing its worthiness in any judicious investment collection, encouraging revelry in both gustatory pleasure and potential fiscal gratification.

Current market price

$680.00

12x75cl

Highest score

79

POP score

N/A

Scores and tasting notes

79

This herbaceous, light to medium-bodied wine is cleanly made but has no substance or depth. In addition, the finish is attenuated. It is a disappointment. Drink it over the first decade of life.

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 April 2002

Vintage performance