90 1999 Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape 8/4/12 (375mL)
13.5% alc
Color: Transparent brick red with significant browning, but still more red than brown. Looks late side of peak. (3.0) Bouquet: Nutty Madeira and Frangelico nuances intertwined with minerally red fruit. Lively. (3.0) Body: Solid middleweight with excellent acidity and tangy mineral. Has sufficient fruit with balance. (3.0) Flavor: Interesting and elegant nut and mineral flavors dominate with energy. Also subtle, sweet fruit underneath with a subtle brown sugar nuance. (3.0) Finish: Lively and long. Shows surprising life and structure compared to the older smelling bouquet. (3.0)
Overall: An interesting, fully mature Chateauneuf with excellent minerals/acidity propelling hazelnut, almond and Madeira complexity. Subtle brown sugar infused red fruit add sweetness to the rest. Drink now after decanting an hour. Note this was from half-bottle. I suspect the full bottle version is drinking even better. (15.0)
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