1999 Sparkling Wine

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, 93 points: Green-tinted gold. Tightly wound lime and pink grapefruit aromas open slowly to reveal a gently smoky mineral and floral character with a light kiss of green cardamom adding interest. Very fresh on the palate with...

Wineanorak, 95 points: Intense, taut and full flavoured, with complex toasty notes and bright citrus freshness. There’s also fine acidity, and notes of ripe apple, as well as some nectarine richness. Overall, though, this is a powerful wine...

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 96 points: Billecart's 1999 Le Clos Saint-Hilaire is exotic and beguiling. Constantly changing in the glass, the 1999 offers exquisite aromatics, silky and a real sense of underlying phenolic structure. Crushed rose petals...

Wine Enthusiast, 96 points: With its richness and great density of flavor, this is always a great Champagne. This 1999 is rounder than some vintages, less mineral, while still retaining the balance between white fruit and toast. It is still young...

Wine & Spirits, 97 points: Essential Salon: A pure evocation of chardonnay in limestone a powerful and profound Champagne. "Fuck yes" said one visiting sommelier from Los Angeles. As for me I love this wine. Its freshness is astonishing tasting...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, 95 points: Green-gold. Explosive bouquet of musky yellow fruits cherry pit toasted grain and minerals; there's something Jura-like about this. Deep palate-staining mirabelle peach pit and poached pear flavors are complicated by...