Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

In every difficult vintage, anywhere, you will find producers that make exceptional wines. This 91 Palmer is such a wine. I have to thank Clyde Beffa owner of K&L Wine Merchants who has been traveling to Bordeaux for 35+ years for highly recommending two 91 Bordeaux's to me. The 91 Pichon Lalande; which he described as "heavenly." It's just the word I would have used to described it 5 or 6 years ago. Also, this 91 Palmer. He described as, "​I love it-soft and silky." I would strongly agree. You see, critics gave the 91 vintage a horrific review as a whole. Bordeaux had two frosts in April and a cold growing season. These elements didn't prevent either of these producers from making beautifully elegant 1991 wines. I have said it many times and will say it again, taste wines even in difficult vintages. You'll find value and some excellent wines. As for this 91, it's in perfect form. Excellent on it's own and even better with the ribeye. It's so elegant, smooth, beautiful, ripe and well balanced with earth & fruit. The fruits are slightly stewed & baked. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, touch of rhubarb, cherries, strawberries. Dried florals, used leather, tobacco with ash, slight vegetal quality, anise, not too sweet black cherry licorice/cola, figs, dark earth with crushed rocks, dry stones, underbrush, understated spice and perfect acidity that drips over the palate. The length, structure, balance and finish are in perfect harmony & the finish goes on and on and on. As many times as we've been to Bordeaux, we never get tired of the drive on the D-2 through Margaux and Pauillac. Chateau Margaux & Palmer stand side by side in beautiful prodigious history to say nothing of Baron Pichon & Pichon Lalande. Every year, for my B-day, I have a great steak and an old Bordeaux. It just doesn't get any better than that. And as many of those nights I've had, B-day or not, this might have been the best. Perhaps topping or equaling the Ribcap at Bourbon Steak and the 91 Pichon Lalande. To quote Gary Westby, "it steak and claret night." 12% alcohol is so much more enjoyable than 15% plus. ❤🍷🎉🎂 — 9 years ago

with Gary

Andrea Picchi

9.1

Soft and slow at first but rapidly embraces the essences of smoke, leather and spice while dark coca and cherries kiss your lips, and taste buds. Not over powering, opens just slow enough for you to divulge into all of it tannins before it suddenly explodes with full flavors dancing all the way down...enjoy it early, often and multiple times — 10 years ago

Matt Trader

9.6

This, is 903 brewery's sasquatch Balcones barrel aged stout.. this is probably the best texas beer I've had the pleasure of consuming.. has everything the original chocolate stout has to offer and about 100 times more. Very dark, thick and viscous, creamy, smells of roasted coffee beans, and a Bourbon soaked sweetness at the tail end, in perfect marriage with the chocolatey finish! Enjoying this the first day it was released on 1/28/2016, and I plan to age one for at least a year, maybe the full 5.. we shall see! — 10 years ago

Skeeter Panes

9.0

Brandy Finish - at times the brandy is over powering. Also, cheap medicine bottle cap. — 11 years ago

Tim O'Rourke

9.0

On potential, this could be very good. Right now, it's pretty shut down, and shows the typical Faiveley wait-a-little-longer style. Opened early and decanted a few times, stash this for another 20 years. — 11 years ago

with David

Sean Shafik

9.0

On the bourbon scale this is great...nice balance and intensity....although I don't get the hype...this is not as interesting or complex as the billboards would preach and honestly I would take some "relaxing times" over this most days of the week.... — 11 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

I am hard-pressed to rate this wine. It's so atypical, but this estate's wines are reputed to take years to round into form. Right now, I mostly get a sense of highly-extracted minerality, with only a little fruit showing-- although it's interesting, highly-confectionary red fruit. And that's on the SECOND NIGHT!. As an unabashed fan of traditionally-styled Bojos, I really don't know where this will end up. But from reputation, I guess it's early in that journey. Right now it's intellectually interesting but not that pleasurable.

UPDATE (night 4): I left about 1/4 of the bottle until now, and, as reputed, it is more pleasurable and demonstrative now. Very pure, confectionary plum/ripe cherry juice fruit in the nose, and there's even a whiff of Bourbon (without the alcohol). Minerality still there but playing a supporting role now. Plus there's a feral/animal tang. Still tannic, but they've softened. This is sui generis, so don't compare it to anything, especially Beaujolais, or you're doing it a disservice. Day 4 rating 9.2. Age this puppy for several years. — 9 years ago

with Lyle

E & K G

9.1

Not as closed as this producer can be at times. High acidity but we tried to open this one early. Lots of volume, structure and fruit. Take your time enjoying this one. — 10 years ago

Jonas Johansson

9.2

Good times in Nashville. — 10 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.3

Really great. Huge fan of the wheat bourbons. There is no way pappy tastes ten times better than this whiskey. — 10 years ago

Chris Trapp

9.2

Smooth an delicious. Mild oak with early burn and fantastic end — 10 years ago

Mike O'Connor

9.2

Great fruit forward, with out the bitter early strawberry flavor you some times get. — 11 years ago

with Melissa

Caleb Mosley

9.8

Black olive, cola, tar, Amaro and violets. Evolved numerous times over a 3 hour drinking window. Tannins make themselves apparent early in the mid and they were deliciously chewy and expansive without becoming overbearing or clumsy. Would've loved to see how the fruit looked and how the ferments were conducted to craft this wine! — 11 years ago

with Laura

George Yasutake

9.4

A little too early for my taste but 10000 times better than the pinot. — 9 years ago

with Mitch

Henrik Poulsen

9.5

A very early peek on this small production Oregon Pinot Noir which I've only tasted a few times before.

Big and bold at this point and the vintage is probably still some time away from being released but people should blindly buy anything they can get their hands on....
Very impressive and 94+ pts for me this evening. — 10 years ago

with Kurt-Inge

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.0

Early times yet for this bottle. The pieces are all there, but not yet knit into the seamless whole that these get with a few more years inn the cellar. Easy to drink, but will give so much more in five years. — 10 years ago

Antonio Gianola

9.7

Tastes substantially wheated. Such a treasure found at dad's house. Thinking it is circa 1965 but not quite sure. Definitely very old — 10 years ago

Nick Steshko

9.5

A great dessert wine. Has notes of Bourbon, Cognac, Wood, with a gently sweet finish. Great after a meal or any other excuse to open it! — 10 years ago

Marcy Simon

9.4

Happy Birthday Marc Silverberg / belated is better often times....to best friends always. This is powerful ... — 11 years ago

Greg Bennett

9.5

Oooooo... Very very good. Early ting/burn but smooth in the finish. — 11 years ago