1999 Piedmont Reds Retrospective Notes

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A blind tasting of 62 wines finds many have aged well in their first decade

Piedmont's 1999 vintage was never destined for greatness, despite the excitement of wine merchants and some Nebbiolo producers, particularly those in Barolo. The growing season was simply not warm or dry enough to yield first-class grapes—and hail in key parts of Barbaresco didn’t help.

Senior editor James Suckling remembered debating the merits of the structure of those young Barolos and Barbarescos when he first tasted them. He found them slightly lean compared with the rich reds from truly great years such as 1997, 1996, 1990 and 1989. Still, many quality Nebbiolos were made, and the 1999 vintage in Piedmont earned an outstanding rating.

Now, after a decade, the reality of the 1999 vintage in Piedmont is more evident. This past summer, Suckling blind-tasted 62 Nebbiolos, all of which were among the top-scoring reds when first released onto the market in 2002 and 2003, for a 1999 Piedmont retrospective. You can read his full report in the Grapevine section of the Dec. 15, 2009, issue of Wine Spectator.

Wine	Score	Release Price
Albino Rocca Barbaresco Vigneto Brich Ronchi 1999	92	$60
Aldo Conterno Barolo Granbussia Riserva 1999	92	$199
Armando Parusso Barolo Mariondino 1999	91	$62
Azelia Barolo San Rocco 1999	91	$72
Azelia Barolo Bricco Fiasco 1999	93	$72
Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano di Neive 1999	90	$150
Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto 1999	95	$170
Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Rabajà 1999	83	$43
Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Coparossa 1999	88	$43
Ceretto Barbaresco Asili 1999	88	$149
Ceretto Barolo Prapò 1999	90	$85
Ceretto Barbaresco Bernardot 1999	90	$87
Ceretto Barolo Bricco Rocche 1999	92	$190
Ceretto Barolo Brunate 1999	93	$85
Conterno Fantino Barolo Vigna del Gris 1999	88	$77
Conterno Fantino Barolo Sorì Ginestra 1999	90	$77
Corino Barolo Vigneto Rocche 1999	92	$70
Corino Barolo Vecchie Vigne 1999	93	$105
Domenico Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra 1999	91	$75
Domenico Clerico Barolo Pajana 1999	95	$75
Elio Altare Barolo 1999	92	$62
Elio Altare Barolo Vigneto Arborina 1999	93	$85
Fratelli Revello Barolo Vigna Giachini 1999	90	$68
Fratelli Revello Barolo Vigna Conca 1999	91	$75
Fratelli Revello Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata 1999	91	$84
Fratelli Revello Barolo Vigna Gattera 1999	92	$65
Gaja Langhe Conteisa 1999	91	$148
Gaja Barbaresco 1999	92	$185
Gaja Langhe Sperss 1999	92	$220
Gaja Langhe Sorì San Lorenzo 1999	93	$340
La Spinetta Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina 1999	91	$98
La Spinetta Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano 1999	92	$98
Luciano Sandrone Barolo Cannubi Boschis 1999	92	$113
Luciano Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne 1999	93	$113
Marchesi di Barolo Barolo Vigne di Proprietà 1999	87	$100
Marchesi di Barolo Barolo Cannubi 1999	89	$63
Marchesi di Barolo Barolo Sarmassa 1999	90	$60
Marchesi di Grésy Barbaresco Camp Gros Martinenga 1999	88	$85
Marchesi di Grésy Barbaresco Gaiun Martinenga 1999	89	$80
Massolino Barolo Parafada 1999	91	$63
Massolino Barolo Margheria 1999	92	$63
Moccagatta Barbaresco Basarin 1999	88	$53
Moccagatta Barbaresco Bric Balin 1999	89	$53
Moccagatta Barbaresco Cole 1999	90	$68
Paolo Scavino Barolo Carobric 1999	91	$85
Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric dël Fiasc 1999	91	$85
Paolo Scavino Barolo Cannubi 1999	93	$95
Paolo Scavino Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata Riserva 1999	93	$205
Pio Cesare Barolo 1999	90	$73
Pio Cesare Barbaresco 1999	90	$63
Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato 1999	92	$110
Pio Cesare Barbaresco Il Bricco 1999	92	$110
Pira Barolo Cannubi 1999	90	$78
Roberto Voerzio Barolo Brunate 1999	93	$215
Roberto Voerzio Barolo Vecchie Vite dei Capalot e delle Brunate Riserva 1999	93	$NA
Roberto Voerzio Barolo Sarmassa di Barolo 1999	94	$500
Roberto Voerzio Barolo Cerequio 1999	95	$215
Roberto Voerzio Barolo La Serra 1999	95	$215
Sottimano Barbaresco Currà 1999	88	$53
Sottimano Barbaresco Cottà 1999	89	$53
Vietti Barolo Rocche 1999	91	$80
Vietti Barolo Ravera 1999	93	$75

A blind tasting of 62 wines finds many have aged well in their first decade

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