1999 Château de la Negly La Porte du Ciel
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The unbelievable 1999 Coteaux du Languedoc-La Clape La Porte du Ciel stands as testimony to what can be achieved in this often-disregarded region of France. Produced from yields of 11 hectoliters per hectare, with grapes harvested at a pH of 4.3, it explodes from the glass with candied cherry aromas. This exceedingly rich wine embraces the palate with ginger, molasses, spices, jellied blackberries, cassis liqueur, and wild blueberry flavors. It is amazingly rich, yet somehow retains freshness and elegance. Its long sumptuous finish reveals copious quantities of superbly ripened tannin. Drink it over the next 15 years. Importer: Jeffrey Davies Signature Selections, West Nyack, NY; tel. (845) 353-8767
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Pierre Rovani
More reviews and scores
Saturated ruby. Explosive aromas of blackberry, mint, violet face powder, mocha, minerals and licorice. Extravagantly sweet and thick in the mouth, with flavors of black cherry and licorice. Utterly voluptuous but almost magically youthful in light of its absurd pH. Extraordinary phenolic ripeness and the long maceration have yielded tannins of rare sweetness and complexity. Distinctly in the too-much-ain't-enough school: I'm not sure if I could drink a bottle of this stuff, but I plan to give it my best shot. Based on this set of wines, La Clape appears to have done better in '99 than Saint-Pargoire.