Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I’ve eyeballed this 05 over the last couple of years...thinking, I should drink this up. One thing about Heitz wines made by the Heitz family is they will age very well. We’ll see what happens to their wines now that they have been sold to corporate owners.

This 05 was pulled from my secondary cabinet storage; which means not EuroCave.

I spent three days sending 200 plus bottles to auction and rearranging my collection. So, this was standing free. Time to drink up, right? Nope. This still has another 5-7 years plus of good drinking ahead even if I laid it down in a dark closet with added humidity. I can, because I live in a cool climate. So, it would be just fine.

The nose reveals, ripe, still fresh fruits of; dark currants, blackberries & black raspberries. Black plum pudding, black cherries, baked strawberries and beautiful blue fruits that always come out nicely in older Heitz wines. Anise to black licorice, steeped dark fruit teas, purple & blue fruit liqueur/cola, limestone minerals, crushed rocks, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, caramel, mocha, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, touch of nutmeg, dark spice, dry & fresh herbs, mint, some soft leather & dry tobacco, graphite notes, dark, rich, black, earth with fresh & withering; dark, red, purple flowers with violets and hints of lavender.

The body is; full, ripe, lush and has beautiful texture. Velvety, dark, tarry, tannins. The tension, structure, length and balance are where I love them...just over the top of the bell curve. This is still so fresh. Dark currants, blackberries & black raspberries. Black plum pudding, black cherries, baked strawberries & rhubarb shine on the long open & palate set with beautiful blue fruits. Anise to black licorice, steeped dark fruit teas, purple & blue fruit liqueur/cola, red licorice, limestone minerals, river stone, crushed rocks, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, caramel, mocha, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, touch of nutmeg, dark spice with just the right amount of palate heat, dry & fresh herbs, mint, some soft leather & dry tobacco, graphite notes, dark, rich, black, earth with fresh & withering; brilliant, dark, red, purple flowers with violets and hints of lavender. The acidity is round and perfect. The long finish is; very well balanced fruit & earth, rich, lush, ripe, elegant, delicious and dances on the palate with long persistence.

It’s a steal today considering I paid $29 in 07/08. Delectable tracks it at $130. Beautiful wine tonight.

Photos of; their tasting bar on Hwy 29, sign and tasting room vines in Saint Helena, tasting room building and sitting area just outside their tasting room. — 7 years ago

Narun P

9.1

Tasted at Chateau.
70% CS and 26% M 4% CF

Deep crimson with slightly bricked tint. Youthful and compact rim.

Charming nose of creme de cassis, dark fruits, leafiness, with slight smoked meat on the background.

On the palate, things start to come together. Substantial but not at all spiky tannin, med plus acidity, med plus bodied, dry. Classic PL mouthful of gravelly tone, dark fruits with good ripeness, cassis, good acid keeping the freshness rather dimensional, good dose of mineral character.

Superb wine that will go the distance. Now with lots of air, ideally in 10 years time. 91+ — 9 years ago

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

Joe Weinberger

9.1

Needs a bit more bottle age but you can tell this is gonna be electric in a few years. — 10 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Dark cassis, lead pencil shavings, graphite, leather, dark earth, gravel. Soft and elegant but this 20 plus year old Bordeaux still needs another 10 plus years to hit its stride. — 11 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

2001 vintage. Quite fresh and youthful despite the age. Honey and nuts, apricots and cream. On the palate, medium plus acidity and medium alcohol, medium body. Great depth to this wine. Still has a good decade ahead of it. No oxidation whatsoever on this bottle. A truly great example of hermitage Blanc. — 11 years ago

Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe

9.4

Red cherry, cigar box, medium plus body and finish. In a really nice spot. — 12 years ago

Peter Park

9.6

Strawberry at first, after an hour of decanting gave way to more of a pepper spice. Very good. — 13 years ago

Nick W

9.3

Real sleeper of a wine — 7 years ago

Frank Soldano

9.9

Drinking the 2008 in 2018. Deep dark rich color with excellent clarity. Dense rich nose. Raspberry, cherry and pepper. Very BIG flavor, rich with cassis, raspberry and earth. Low tannins and a balanced smooth finish. Wonderful wine! — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

Deep ruby red with garnet hue. Dark spices on the nose, notes of anise, herbs and raspberries. Medium tannins (6/10) and medium plus body. Solid acidity too. A little herbal on the palate, dark berries, crushed gravel, pencil shavings. Medium plus to long finish. Drink till 2024. — 9 years ago

with Sean

Chris Hyland

9.1

Great w a steak. Run of the mill cab but very drinkable. — 9 years ago

Seiji Takeuchi

8.9

Cherry and spice at the end. California. — 9 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.5

Dark blood red in color with a big cherry and tobacco nose. This wine has aged beautifully. On the palate it is bright and fresh but deep and complex, tart cherry, oak, tobacco and strawberry. Moderate plus tannins and moderate acid for a satisfying and chewy finish. At under $40 a bottle, this is a fantastic value. — 10 years ago

with Claire and Susan

Lewis Chester

9.2

2006 vintage. Medium ruby hue. Cedar, blackberry, black currant, some black liquorice, white pepper. Reasonably complex despite youthfulness. On the palate, medium minus body and medium acidity, medium plus concentration of flavour. Medium alcohol. Medium minus tannins - soft. Good length. There's a slight dilute, light feel about this wine. It might gain weight with a bit more age or some proper decanting. Very enjoyable. Drink now until 2026+ — 10 years ago

Jeremy Hyatt

9.0

BETTER than expected. Smooth finish. — 10 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Dark ruby purple. Funky nose with slate, pencil lead, and medium plus finish. Rich and full bodied. Great showing today for this bottle. — 11 years ago

Rob Bedard

9.2

Great wine, nice smooth finish. — 11 years ago

Benedict Fox

9.1

Spicegirls minus girls, plus bros — 12 years ago

with Will

John Langley

9.5

Incredibly intoxicating nose. Classic style Rioja that will only get better. Vibrant sour cherry with tobacco. Hints of cedar. Medium plus to long finish. Delicious!! — 14 years ago

Benoit Duhamel

9.4

Sylvain a remplacé son Mouton 86 par Haut-Brion 90. Un nez similaire au Montrose mais en moins profond et plus discret. En bouche le vin n’est pas aussi complexe et profond que je m’attendais malgré que celui-ci a de belles saveurs de fruits, de graphite et de cuir. La texture est soyeuse et la longueur est moyenne. Le vin me semble un peu sur la retenue. J’imagine que lui aussi souffre de passer
directement après Montrose. — 8 years ago

Khi Ana

9.5

enjoyed. Fruity. — 9 years ago

Riccardo Arrigoni

10

At Cuvée Como, 04/10/17 festa Laurea — 9 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

8.9

A bit hazy, cloudy and dark ruby red. Thick baking cocoa on the nose with a touch porty, tight black cherries, and raspberries. Strong acidity with medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and full bodied. Seemed a bit disjointed even with a 2 hour decant. Layered palate with plums, cedar, a bit of animal notes like leather, leaves, a touch earthy and dark cherries too. Long finish. Might be going through a dumb phase and need some time. Drink till 2023. — 9 years ago

with India

"Odedi"

9.1

Deep purple in color with a purplish rim. Showing youth.

Beautiful nose of blueberries, cherries, plums, vanilla, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, smoke, crushed Aspirin, eucalyptus, earth, alcohol, pencil lead, cola, peppercorn and spices.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and faint legs.

Dry on the palate with cherries, strawberries, raspberries, red currants, licorice, earth, spices, light barnyard, wood, peppercorn, light vanilla, leather, light green vegetables, herbs and chocolates.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

A great Left Bank Bordeaux, but still young. Not fully balanced, but very enjoyable by itself or with food. A Good sipping wine and elegant with nice complexity.

Needs 2 hours to open up properly (Not pleasant out of the bottle).

I wish we didn't open it now, and waited a few more years... Still I really enjoyed it.

13.5% alcohol by volume. — 10 years ago

David Dornan

9.4

Found this gem in the cellar....Still a lot of life left in it. Decent fruit plus cigar box, meat, and a lot of minerality. Nothing like a 35 year old Bordeaux — 10 years ago

Alexa Zajecka

9.3

Many rieslings can be too sweet but this one had a good balance. — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.2

1966 vintage. Medium mahogany hue. Deep apricot and honey notes, toffee and butterscotch. Burned fruit pieces. On the palate, medium plus acidity, medium plus concentration with a long, albeit simple finish. Not the most complex Yquem I have had. But enjoyable nonetheless. — 11 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.2

1982 vintage in Magnum. Medium garnet. Medium plus intensity. Power still evident. Leather, black fruits, fresh mushroom, dried fruits. Oak and iron. Medium acidity. Good length. Medium minus tannins that are soft. On the finish, the fruit is dying somewhat and the finish is a little dry. Past its best. — 11 years ago

Levi London

9.6

Strong nose of pineapple and tangerine. Outstanding palette of honey, grilled lemon, grapefruit candy and sweet floral notes. Very long finish that hangs on the back of the tongue. Outstanding wine. — 13 years ago