1999 Chambertin Clos de Beze

Blackberries, black cherries, and candied black raspberries can be found in the nose of the medium to dark ruby-colored 1999 Chambertin Clos de Beze. This wine has outstanding depth and concentration. Loads of lively red cherries, strawberries, and blueberries can be found in its velvety-textured personality. Additionally, this wine possesses an exceptionally long, pure, and super-ripe tannin-filled finish. Projected maturity: 2004-2012. This estate, which for years produced wines far below their qualitative pedigrees, is back on track. Pierre Damoy (the domaine is named after his great-great-grandfather), who has run this estate since 1992, has significantly lowered yields (its grand cru parcels averaged between 24 and 35 hectoliters per hectare in 1999), has adopted non-interventionist winemaking, and now eschews fining and filtration. Readers who are familiar with the history of Burgundy know that Napoleon ended the monarchy's laws of primogeniture (whereby the eldest son was the sole inheritor) and instituted laws forcing the equal partition of a family's assets among all its children. This has caused the fragmented parcelization of vineyards and estates. A prime example of this is the fact that Domaine Pierre Damoy is owned by a multitude of family members, with the present day administrator, Pierre Damoy, owning less that 1%. Importer: David Shiverick, Langdon-Shiverick, Cleveland, OH; tel. (216) 861-6800. Importers: Fruit of the Vines, Atherton Wine Imports, Atherton, CA; tel. (650) 328-6639.