Vinous - Score: 97 (2002 April)

Canon La Gaffeliere's opaque purple-colored 1999 is a strong effort for this vintage. It displays a sweet nose of pain grille, smoke, meats, graphite, blackberry, and cassis liqueur. The wine is full-bodied, deep, powerful, and rich, with sweet tannin and low acidity. This is a blockbuster effort for a delicate vintage such as 1999. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2016.