Volnay Les Champans, Domaine Marquis d'Angerville 1999

Tasting note: (opened from personal storage). I clearly under rated this wine, not only in terms of its quality but also its longevity as it has evolved more slowly than I originally imagined. However this beauty is close to being ready for prime time with its elegant and pure nose that is just starting to display the first hints of secondary development with its ripe black pinot fruit and earth nuances. There is excellent richness and concentration to the utterly delicious and increasingly complex flavors that are supported by a still firm yet clearly softening tannic spine, all wrapped in a solidly powerful and impressively persistent finale. For my taste this is almost ready though I would suggest waiting for another 1 to 3 years first though I underscore that the '99 Champans will age gracefully for another 20 years, perhaps longer. Tasted twice in the last few months with similar results. In short, this is terrific and should only be better with time.

I clearly under rated this wine, not only in terms of its quality but also its longevity as it is evolving glacially. I had said that it would evolved slowly but just how slowly was also hidden from me. The nose is still completely primary and the big, rich and meaty flavors are supported by a pronounced tannic spine and excellent finishing power on the hugely long backend. There is a nice core of pinot sap to balance the tannins and this should continue to evolve slowly over the next 10 years and last a good deal longer. A terrific effort.