1999 Bernard Faurie Hermitage

They do three cuvees here normally. This year, they threw in a fully-oaked cuvee, too. Yuck. They do best when they stick to what they’ve been doing for a while, making old-fashioned terroir-driven wines, totally make-up free. The best of the “normal” cuvees is the blend between wine from the Meal and Greffiere vineyards. It’s got the signature blackberries and leather aromas in a somewhat larger, fatter format than usual. Terrific wine and fun to drink; no doubt in years to come, millionaires will enjoy debating the merits of the Faurie versus the Chave. I think in ’99, the Chave will win, but the Faurie will be a pretty honorable second.

SY (1/02)