This wine is a brilliant success, it is one of the stars of the vintage. Lafleur's 1999 is atypically powerful and concentrated, with an inky, saturated purple color followed by a sensational nose of black cherry jam intermixed with liquid minerals, raspberries, and licorice. It is super concentrated, extraordinarily pure, with moderately high tannin. This dense, powerful, impressively endowed wine should turn out to be a classic for Lafleur. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025.

Delivers intense aromas of coffee, blackberry and dark chocolate, as well as nuts and some jam. Full-bodied, featuring chewy tannins and a spice, berry and chocolate character. Also shows some grilled meat. Very tight still; give it time. Just coming around now.—'89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). Best after 2011. 2,080 cases made. -JS