A ferocious hurricane with winds over 120 miles per hour slammed into Bordeaux on December 27, 1998, providing an inauspicious precursor to the 1999 Bordeaux vintage. The first few months of 1999 were normal, but dry. Bud burst occurred during an unusual blast of heat, which was followed by a warm, late spring. However, the climate turned tropical, requiring treatment to avoid the development of mildew. Flowering took place at a good pace, under normal conditions in late May and early June. The start of the summer was fine, with warm, dry weather for both June and July. August started with over three inches of rain on the Bordeaux vineyards. From that point on, everything was once again developing smoothly until a violent hailstorm devastated numerous vineyards September 5, particularly in St. Emilion where numerous vineyards were forced to start their harvest the following day. Heavy rain fell in September, soaking the vineyards and diluting the grapes. This resulted in a difficult vintage, with high yields, making it hard to produce high quality 1999 Bordeaux wine.
But with the improved knowledge of vineyard techniques gained in the decade preceding the 1999 vintage, green harvesting, the willingness to make severe selections in the vineyards and in the cellars, the ability to remove excess water from the wine and concentrate juice, and patience in selecting times for harvesting, it was possible to produce some lovely 1999 Bordeaux wines, particularly in Pomerol. The 1999 vintage of Chateau Pomeaux was harvested in the last week of September 1999 and, after malolactic fermentation in new small oak barrels and aging in new oak barrels, was bottled in June 2001. The 1999 vintage of Chateau Pomeaux is extraordinarily robust, fruity, powerful, and elegant.
Chateau Pomeaux
Lieu-dit Toulifaut
33500 Pomerol