3 | Wine | 1999 | Page 2

"Offers a fine balance between rich, smoky nut and coffee character and flavors of ripe pear, pineapple, lemon meringue and ground ginger, with well-meshed, firm acidity. A hint of coffee liqueur shows on the creamy finish."

"The 1999 Brut Millesime is a dramatic, large-scaled Champagne that sweeps across the palate with remarkable density in its fruit. The wine shows superb length, with chalky notes that linger on the finish. This richly-textured, full-bodied Champagne will offer highly pleasurable drinking now and over the next few years."

"The 1999 Merlot Three Palms Vineyard possesses a deep ruby/purple color as well as a striking perfume of black fruits and subtle floral, foresty, and new oak notes. It is full-bodied and rich, with well-integrated tannin, and a long finish."

"Brooding aromas of currant, minerals, tobacco, truffle and earth; strong aspect of medicinal austerity. Suave, bright and young; offers an uncanny combination of sweetness and powerful structure. Very rich, mouthfilling wine with even more power and thrust than the young 2000. Finishes with very fine, sweet tannins and outstanding persistence." Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"The 1999 Sori Tildin is a knockout wine. It offers a classic, expressive nose of flowers and spices and somewhat austere profile of sweet red fruit, minerals and menthol on a mid-weight frame. It is the hardest of these wines to read today, but I found myself coming back to it often and discovering new nuances with each taste."

"One of the finest Champagnes I have ever brought to my lips, the 1999 Cristal bursts from the glass with fresh hazelnut and apple scents. Elegant, deep, and silky-textured, this medium to full-bodied beauty is immensely concentrated, pure, packed with apple flavors, and astoundingly long in the finish."

"The wine exudes notable complexity in its dried apricots, peaches, baking spices, roasted nuts, ash, freshly baked cinnamon rolls and sweet toasted oak. This is a soft, creamy style of Champagne backed up with impressive structure. The oak notes are rather prominent at first, but then recede somewhat with air. Readers who prefer wines with less overt oak influence will probably enjoy some of the other releases more."

"Light, bright gold. High-pitched citrus zest and Anjou pear aromas are complicated by jasmine, honey and sea salt. Sappy and precise, offering vibrant lemon, orange and floral flavors and an exotic touch of iodine. Shows a suave blend of power and vivacity and finishes with excellent clarity, cut and lingering florality."