Le Clos du Caillou Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Reserve red 1999

Easily the best bottle of this I’ve had, the 1999 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Caillou Reserve delivers a spectacular, polished profile with gorgeous aromas of blackberry liqueur, spice cabinet, roasted meats, and licorice that are carried by a beautiful steak of underlying minerality. Medium to full-bodied, this cuvee comes all from sandy soils, and it shows on the palate, with the wine possessing a silky, seamless texture, solid mid-palate concentration, and very polished tannin that adds length and focus on the finish. Drinking brilliantly now, this will continue to shine for upwards of another decade.