Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is nice with black cherries, cassis, slight floral notes and cedar. Medium to full bodied. On the palate, this has ripe cassis flavors with a touch of leather and slight dried floral notes. Medium tannins. Good finish. This needs a few more years to open and then should drink well for another ten to twelve more. This would work well with a bacon-cheese Quiche.
Another great showing from this estate. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. Opaque and bright. The nose has slight cherries with a bit of smoke. Delicate but persistent. On the palate, this is very smooth. Light tannins. Cherries and sour cherries with a slight char underneath. Nice finish. This is a more delicate wine with nice acidity and will appeal to those who like more red fruits than say purple. It will match well to pasta dishes or fowl. This should improve a bit more over the next few years and then drink well for another ten to twelve after that.
It is always a treat to drink a mature First Growth. This is fully mature and drinking beautifully. 12.5% abv according to the importer sticker on the bottle. Purple/ruby in color with some browning at the rim, mostly clear and a bit flat. The nose is dusty with cassis and tobacco. With air some dried fruits come out. Medium bodied. On the palate, this has a vibrant acidity. Nice cherry and black cherry fruit with some cassis. Layers of complexity. Fruit over spice and dried forest floor. Nice finish. This begs for food and went well with a roasted Brie but would work well with
Any time one gets a chance to drink a first growth, it's a true pleasure. They have become prohibitively priced, so its nice when a bottle actually gets open and consumed. Perhaps not the greatest vintage of Margaux, but a very good one. At age 22, this is pretty much at peak and drinking very well. Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has a bit of that Margaux liquor/perfume with cherries, cassis, slight spice, and leather but clean. Full bodied. Medium tannins. The palate has black cherries, slight black tea, and slight soy. Long finish.
Though 1999 is a good if not great vintage, Palmer is certainly one of the top wines of the vintage. This is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot. It is at peak. This bottle was opened at 2:00 and allowed to breathe until 5:00 when it was double decanted back to its original bottle and sealed before serving at around 8:00. That seemed to be about right. Garnet in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, black cherries, spice, cedar and floral notes. Medium to full bodied. On the palate, this is complex and layered. Cassis
A very nice showing for this wine. Great vintage and the wine is in a great place. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, dark cherries, cigar box, spice and slight leather. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, this is fresh, complex and deep. Flavors of cassis, tobacco, spice and char. Good finish. Just about at peak but still has another ten to fifteen years left of great drinking. Lovely on its own but even better with food. Lamb chops would work perfectly.
