1999 Frederic Magnien Morey St-Denis

[brappy]

Haven't had the wine you've noted on.

As to the Pine Ridge "Dijon Clone": Have tasted the '02 and the '03. Enjoyed both although the '03 didn't have quite the concentration of fruit the '02 did. I don't believe you need to sit on these wines. They should be drinking pretty good right now. There's nothing wrong with holding them, but if I had some now, I would drink them whenever I felt the urge.

As to the "question": Not many is probably true. However, Marcassin, Kistler, Paul Hobbs, Aubert, and a few others are very, very close. The only difference in these wines to (ie:montrachets, etc) thier french counterparts that I can tell is the lack of minerality in the Cali wines. Still great wines, just not quite the same.

On a side note: Some of the Chards from Western Australia are almost identical to w. Burgs. Some minerality, some oak, some malo and great chard fruit. Some examples would be: Leeuwin Estate, Franklin Estate, Vasse Felix, Moss Wood, Salitage, Howard Park, and others. The cost of these wines for the most part will be a bargain compared to the Cali and French counterparts.

Anyway, good luck,

mark