Billecart Salmon Clos St Hilaire 1999

An extraordinary one-hectare parcel of pinot noir planted in 1964. Deep golden hue. An extremely rich and majestic nose with savory notes of cocoa, smoked mushroom, forest floor earthiness, grilled hazelnuts, orange marmalade, spiced cherries, plums and spiced bread. Wildly complex! The palate has a languid, toasty core of flavor with a deep warming wash of spices, toasted almonds and grilled hazelnuts. Freshens to dried cherry and plum pastry leading into a smooth and vinous finish. Striking depth and grace. Drinks like an old Burgundy. Disgorged in June 2014. Drink now.

Billecart's 1999 Le Clos Saint-Hilaire is exotic and beguiling. Constantly changing in the glass, the 1999 offers exquisite aromatics, silky and a real sense of underlying phenolic structure. Crushed rose petals, licorice, smoke, game and tobacco add nuance as the wine opens up. With time in the glass, the personality of these Pinot vines becomes more and more expressive. The 1999 was bottled with no dosage, but that would be impossible to ascertain in a blind tasting. Drink 2016-2024.