Grand Puy Lacoste 1999

This deep ruby/purple-colored 1999 has some tannin to resolve, but it is an elegant, medium-bodied, delicious effort that will reward readers who have the patience to cellar it for several years. It is not a blockbuster in the style of the 2000 or 1996, but the 1999 offers charming roundness, sweet cassis fruit, excellent purity, and fine overall balance.

Classic in style, the wine is on the bright, crisp, leafy, cassis and tobacco side. There is more freshness than depth, more acidity than fruit and the wine is more complex and enjoyable on the nose, than on the medium bodied palate. This is probably drinking at peak.