The classic, elegant, complex and fully mature 1999 Chateauneuf du Pape la Crau de Ma Mere is a quintessential Chateauneuf that offers loads of spice box, tobacco, cedar, garrigue and sweet Grenache-driven fruit. This medium to full-bodied, focused, elegant and finesse-driven beauty has a great texture and plenty of length, and while there's no upside, it will continue evolving gracefully.

The 1999 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau de Ma Mere is produced from the renowned Chateauneuf du Pape region called La Crau, the hottest, most precocious terroir of the appellation (other wines from this area include Vieux-Telegraphe, Font de Michelle, and Henri Bonneau's Reserve des Celestins). This Provencal-styled Chateauneuf exhibits the famed garrigue (that melange of earth tones, thyme, rosemary, and lavender) character, crushed pepper, spices, plum, and kirsch liqueur notes. This excellent, complex, savory, full-bodied, fleshy wine is meant to be consumed over the next 7-8 years. Importer: Michel-Schlumberger Imports, Healdsburg, CA; tel. (707) 433-7427