Log in or create an account now and be a part of the world's largest wine site Research, rate and review wines; buy online; receive personalized recommendations.
Domaine Guy Amiot et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet Les Vergers 1er Cru(1999)
- Winery:
- Domaine Guy Amiot et Fils
- Varietal:
- Chardonnay
- Region:
- France > Burgundy
- Type:
- White Wine
- User Tags:
- chardonnay, white grape, old vines, acidic, austere, fat, style, elegant, citrus, lime
- Burghound
- Issue 3, Jul 01, 2001
- 89/100
-
May 2008
- Guy Amiot believes that his 2000 whites are extremely promising though it's too early to say whether they will be better than his solid 99s. M. Amiot made a point of explaining that they never force the malos, preferring that their wines feed off the lees for as long as possible before racking them off; in 99, they did a battonage (lees stirring) every 10 days. When I asked about yields, he said that there were considerable differences among his wines because a number of them come from extremely old vines, which are a good deal less productive than younger vines. And in the same vein, M. Amiot also read more...noted that he dislikes clones precisely because he believes the majority of them are overly productive. The Amiot 99 whites were bottled in September, just before the 2000 harvest after having spent 11 months in 20 to 25% new oak; the other 75% are older barrels that range in age between 1 and 4 years. Amiot uses wood from 3 different forests and barrels from 4 to 5 different barrel makers, depending on the vintage and availability. I tasted the wines in early February. Note: from 60+ year old vines on original chardonnay plant material - M. Amiot calls this le vrai chardonnay or the true chardonnay Tight, almost steely fruit with reserved flavors and just enough fat to avoid austerity. The acidity here is marvelous in its ability to frame the flavors as well as provide both elegance and raciness. The old vine intensity coupled with the lemon-lime and wet stones quality on the palate is really quite beguiling and it continues on into the persistent finish. I like the style of this very much though one could wish for a bit more density. This will require some patience and if it adds weight with additional bottle age, my score will seem conservative. (hide)
- Burghound
- Feb 04, 2001
- 89/100
-
May 2008
- (from 60+ year old vines on original chardonnay plant material - M. Amiot calls this le vrai chardonnay or the true chardonnay). Tight, almost steely fruit with reserved flavors and just enough fat to avoid austerity. The acidity here is marvelous in its ability to frame the flavors as well as provide both elegance and raciness. The old vine intensity coupled with the lemon-lime and wet stones quality on the palate is really quite beguiling and it continues on into the persistent finish. I like the style of this very much though one could wish for a bit more density. This will require some patience read more...and if it adds weight with additional bottle age, my score will seem conservative. (hide)
