Notes:

Wine Advocate Issue # 138

The 1999 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul (10,000 bottles produced) has closed down since bottling. It is a dense purple-colored, concentrated effort made from incredibly low yields of 15-20 hectoliters per hectare from 80-year old vines. A blend of 95% Grenache and 5% Cinsault, this tannic, backward, blockbuster vin de garde should open in 4-5 years, and last for two decades. It is an extracted, dense, atypically powerful 1999.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Jan/Feb '02
($42; 15.2% alcohol) Impressive full ruby color. Knockout roasted aromas of raisiny red fruits, meat and truffle. A step up in concentration and sweetness from the regular bottling, with compellingly deep yet delineated flavors of red and black fruits, truffle and smoked meat. Offers almost freakish richness and density for the vintage, and the full gamut of Chateauneuf aromas. Finishes with big but thoroughly ripe tannins that reach the front teeth. 93 points