Château Picque Caillou 1999

The elegant, light-bodied 1999 Picque Caillou offers aromas of dark fruits, scorched earth, and a hint of ashtray. It is a superficial, pleasant effort to consume during its first 3-4 years of life.

This red shows good body for the vintage, with plenty of berry and tobacco character. Medium-bodied, with medium tannins and a light finish. Best after 2004. 5,000 cases made.

Deep ruby-purple color. Intense bouquet with floral spice and a hint of geraniol. On the palate, firm—somewhat hard due to the concentration, almost metallic, with a drying, tooth-coating feel—yet as dense as rarely seen before. It can still gain a point if its potential is realized with further aging.

00: Dark ruby purple. Intense bouquet, floral spice, a hint of geraniol. On the palate, firm; the concentration makes it a bit hard and even metallic, mouth-puckering, yet as dense as rarely before. Could gain a point if it manages to absorb its potential with further ageing. 16/20 2003 – 2012 Medium ruby. Rather delicate bouquet with a fresh sour-cherry touch, tobacco notes, fairly slender. On the palate, medium-bodied, with a gentle vegetal sheen, currant-like notes and green, spicy Cabernet tones, aromatic finish. It keeps wavering between lightness and strictness.

Bright red color. Medium to good intensity. Brilliant. Medium-intensity nose. Fruity. Smoky. Ripe. Spicy. The attack on the palate is more substantial than in the past. The wine develops with savory, rounded character, showing spicy and fruity flavors and rounded tannins. The finish suggests a touch of toasty notes and tannins that still need to integrate, as they are still marked by oak. Normal length. A renewal, with a bit more flesh. Wait 3 to 4 years.