Tasted from an ex-chateau bottle at the Lafleur vertical dinner at Attersee in Austria. The 1999 is an overlooked vintage for Lafleur and is a strong challenger for the wine of the vintage. The Cabernet Franc component is still expressive on the nose with brambly red fruit, scorched earth, sandalwood and hints of dark chocolate. It is very well defined and potent in the context of the vintage. The palate is extremely well balanced with a supple entry and an insistent grip. There retains elements of clove and chestnut, but the finish is still quite precocious, if missing the complexity of a truly great Lafleur. Nevertheless, this is a superb wine and a great success for “Jacky G”.

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. - Robert Parker

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