See Decanter's vintage guide for Médoc and Graves 1999.
Médoc and Graves 1999
Drink soon
Rain complicated matters but some very good wines look set to emerge
Weather Conditions
Normal flowering after a warm May. The summer was warm and humid, and green- harvesting was essential to reduce the high crop. Damp weather provoked mildew and some rot. There was hot dry period until rain fell on the Médoc from 13 September. Careful viticultural practices ensured that overall, and after selection in the vineyard, bunches were ripe and reasonably healthy. White Graves were picked at high sugar levels and are very attractive. As for the reds, they have attractive fruit but only a light tannic structure thanks to high yields. At this stage there is no consensus about whether the vintage is better overall than 1998.
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