Medium colour. The nose seems a tad volatile though below it could be described as quite pretty as its red fruit base slowly evolves. Nicely balanced, with very good acidity. Elegant rather than slight – though not a million miles from the latter – that would be forgiven if it had a beguiling touch too – today it doesn’t. Hopefully a phase, but in a half bottle this is quite ‘ready’ if far from engrossing. Less good than 18 months ago, that volatile hint being an exceptional bottle I hope. Actually was consistent for 2 half bottles from the same case, bought be me on release.

From a half bottle. Medium ruby-red colour. The nose shows understated but heavily perfumed notes of dark flowers over tight red fruit notes. In the mouth it’s fresh and shows almost no tannin. Initially linear, it slowly unwinds in the mouth with decent intensity and a slowly growing width of flavours – it seems just a little fatter as it reaches room temperature and there’s quite a nice high toned ‘mouth perfume’. The flavours in the almost good finish are becoming just a little secondary. Clearly it’s a little tight showing not even close to the extra depth of flavour you currently find in a good 2005 villages Chambolle or even what it showed itself 5 or 6 years ago. Clean, pretty, slightly acid forward and easy drinking is the report today – not too much here to set the pulse racing. Return in another two or three years…

The first bottle from a pack of 12 halves. Medium ruby-red, still edged with cherry-red. The nose starts just a little lactic, but the raspberry fruit soon dovetails to give a better creamy raspberry effect – the last sniffs are quite brown sugar… The palate is lithe, though seems rather less concentrated than the preceding Lignier, but it’s light on its feet with a medium finish – the acidity slowly lingers. These 1999’s were lovely on release but just now they are ‘only’ showing as ‘pretty good’. Much less compelling than the 2000 Lignier today. I’ll let them rest for 3-5.

Short note two days after drinking. This was drunk together with the 99 Chambolle from Barthod. Just a little deeper in colour. The nose is more diffuse but seems to have more going on. The palate is not so focused, but matches the concentration of the Barthod then takes on another dimension – a really fantastic, many faceted finish – a real surprise, overall (just) bettering the 99, but perhaps less long-lived.

From a half bottle, I have a soft spot for this wine in halves, very handy. Medium red and still quite young looking. The nose has quite some depth, just a little powdery perhaps but digs up spade-fulls of red fruit. The palate is equally giving, depth, interesting creamy length and not too much tannin. I’d still leave this another year or two, but from a half it’s drinking pretty well. On the finish, not the extra dimension of the 1999, but this comes close and is a rewarding drink – I stocked up on a few more – you can’t beat having a few halves available.

Resorted to this one when the Clerget Chambolle showed badly. Medium young cherry-red colour. The nose is high toned and a little diffuse, taking time to put on extra weight with coffee overtones. Elegant red fruit but a little more subdued than the last outing, still has the extra creamy dimension on the finish but really takes its time to sing. Today the next wine is the more rewarding.

Unfortunately, after a very good run – over 2 months – corked! Smelly cork on extraction, but the wine smelled okay on pouring – 5 minutes later – ugh. I think behind the taint there’s a nice wine – sad.

Medium cherry colour. Nose is mild cinnamon, red cherry and violets, no obvious oak. Concentrated sweet red fruits, goodish acidity, well hidden tannin and very long. A little vanilla right at the end – for a village, superb.