TN: 1999 E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

WINE TALK
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  • 1999 E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (9/17/2009)
    A very spicy, herbally, and earthy nose - the fruit is there, it’s just very much secondary. Very light rim on this wine, surprisingly so, almost fading to clear. Very mature, silky mouthfeel, tannins are a bit finely grained, but still almost non-existent. This wine is a bit one-dimensional at present, and is likely over its peak. Not unenjoyable, just not at all spectacular, either. (89 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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Good note, and consistent with mine for the last few years. The biggest joke Spectator “Wine of the Year” ever. (When there are so many great estate grown Chateauneuf du Papes, why would you pick one that’s a negociant bottling, in a weaker year for CdP, as WOTY? Unfathomable.)

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Agree it was kind of a silly pick, I remember finding a case of it at Costco for $21/per after the Spectator was out. Drank a couple, decided it was OK, not great, sold off the rest.

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Interesting to see notes on this. Not really a huge fan of this wine due to bottle variation. I have come across many wines over the years with really hard tannins.

I find their WOTY pick to always have issues, but I think that is the issue with having a hard ranking. Gambero Rosso at least says “these are the best wines of the year, in no particular order.”

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I didn’t even realize is was a WS WOTY. Assumably, it was more complex or interesting when it was first released…

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Todd,
It was no more complex or interesting on first release. It was kind of a weak, okay, garden variety CdP, maybe a little more approachable than some in its first year or two, but nothing in the least special (and from purchased fruit). It was also relatively inexpensive, until the WS ranking came out.