An excellent vintage throughout California producing a fitting finale to a remarkable decade for Californian wine. The effects of El Niņo created a long, cool growing season - spring was very cold, while the summer was exceptionally mild. There was a week of intense heat at the end of September and this led to a rapid rise in sugar levels. Harvesting began in October and many wineries, such as Ridge, and Diamond Creek", were harvesting into November. Quantities are down on the 1998s vintage but the quality is extremely high. The Sauvignon Blancs and Chardonnays are ripe and well balanced with the Carneros Chardonnays being particularly successful. The Pinot Noirs ripened late, but successfully, but the year will be best remembered for its Cabernet Sauvignons and Zinfandels. The best are deeply coloured and display very good depth of fruit and should prove very age-worthy. All indications are that 1999 Cabernet Sauvignons are comparable to 1995 and 1997 in quality and style.