This tasting of 1999 North Rhône wines was much, much better than the 1998 Rhône tasting notes which I reported earlier this year. The fruit was ripe and exciting and – particularly thrilling, most of the wines were gratifyingly true to their origins. There was the odd Colombo Cornas which, if tasted blind, would be difficult to place in that seriously revived appellation, but most of the wines were delightfully expressive of their appellations. Tannins were generally very ripe and satisfying. The wines look good now but most of them, especially in Côte Rôtie and Hermitage of course, should repay keeping. The Côte Rôties were...