TN: Groffier 1999 Chambolle-Musigny 1er "Les Hauts Doix"

Jeff Grossman

Jeff Grossman
Bought on release. The first sip seems promising: dark blue-black fruit, a bit of meaty funkiness (more appropriate to Gevrey than Chambolle but hey), crisp acidity, and nary an oak chip to taste.

But, as I drink it in and around dinner, I start to think that someone has tried to make a steakhouse wine with pinot noir: it's pruny, and hollow in the mid-palate, and it has tired oak tannins that show up with a bit of air. It reminds me of another sad, disemboweled wine I know.

They wasted a nice vintage.
 
As much as I dis Groffier I've been avoiding 1999 Burgundies as most of the ones I've tried have been shut down.

So are 1995s.

At least 1996s are finally opening.
 
We had their Les Amoureuses (I think from that vintage) about a year ago. That was one of the most captivating burgundies I ever had, and it got more beautiful with every glass. A friend, who knows much more than I do, dropped by for a glass and agreed. But was mightily surprised, since his experience with the winery is pretty much in line with what you guys say.
So given the prices I have not dared to repeat the experience, even less so now.
 
The wines are wildly inconsistent. Nothing in the thread surprises me.
 
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