Ruben Lozano

9.2

2021 welcome — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Mmmm....better. 1999 was a meh vintage to most critics. I find it has evolved to better things with this much time in bottle.

The nose reveals, ruby and candied; blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, black raspberries, raspberries, poached cherries & strawberries. Touch cooked green bell pepper, mixed berry licorice, anise to black licorice, used leather, saddle-wood to cedar, dark, moist, black earth, limestone, stones, graphite, vanilla, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg and dark spice, coffee, dark chocolate with fresh & withering, dark, red, blue and purple flowers.

The body is just full. The tannins are soft, round, chewy and tarry. The structure, tension, length and balance are pretty good for 99. ruby and candied; blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, black raspberries, raspberries, poached cherries & strawberries. more cooked green bell pepper on the palate, mixed berry licorice, anise to black licorice, used leather, saddle-wood to cedar, dark, moist, black earth, limestone, stones, graphite, vanilla, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg and dark spice, coffee, dark chocolate with fresh & withering, dark, red, blue and purple flowers. The acidy is nice. The finish is elegant, well balanced but, not as rich as other good vintages Palmer. It is spicy and persists minutes on the palate.

Photos of; Chateau Palmer, their barrel room, a photo of their vineyard soil structure-if you didn’t know where all that earthiness comes from, a picture is worth a thousand words and their tasting room. — 6 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Tasted blind. Reddish tawny, translucent and old looking. Awesome nose. Notes of leather saddle, pencil lead, currants, cherry, soil, and some toasted hickory. All guessed 61 Bordeaux. This got better through the night and was at its best in the last glass. — 8 years ago

Alexandre Calvi

9.5

Nuf said, super fresh and just ripe e black plums, Cherry 🍒 and sweet tannins soft black sky spices. #unforgettable — 8 years ago

Mickey K

9.5

Excellent, bold new world take on a traditional CDR. Tobacco and raisins. Maybe cinnamon or cardamom. But more fruit forward with jammy dark berries. Tangy. — 8 years ago

Paul Weil

9.0

An always impressive effort, this Bordeaux style blend never disappoints. This vintage is par for the course- a big wine, with thick chewy tannins and rich mocha cherry flavors. The lingering finish is lice aniseed pop rocks on the tongue. — 8 years ago

Matt Berkovitch

Sommelier Babbo

9.3

Savory, meaty, earthy, caramelized, charred soy. Nose like a bowl of bomb ramen So good. — 9 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.1

This was quite good - and better than the 2013 Moon, which I’m pretty sure received a higher rating. Probably just past peak, however, so I wouldn’t advise hanging on to this one much longer. — 5 years ago

with Vanessa

Robbin Montero

8.9

Balance blend of oak and fruit — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

From magnum and paired well with three different Tri-tip steaks sources and marinades.

On the nose, sweet & sour, ripe dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, strawberries, some ripe, slightly rustic rhubarb with just a hint of blue fruits. Glycerin, touch of fruit liqueur, vanilla, dry stones, crushed rocks, hints of dry herbs, used leather, saddle-wood, dark rich soils, soft dark spice, underlying white pepper and dark red fresh and slightly withering florals with a touch of violets.

The palate is med and beautiful. The length, structure, tension and balance are at its peak harmony from magnum. Sweet & sour, ripe dark cherries, cherries, blackberries, strawberries, pomegranate, some ripe, slightly rustic rhubarb, burnt orange, with just a hint of blue fruits. Glycerin, touch of fruit liqueur, vanilla, dry river stones, crushed rocks, hints of dry herbs, used leather, saddle-wood, dark rich soils, limestone minerals, dry stems, more presence, soft dark spice, underlying white pepper and dark red fresh and slightly withering florals with a touch of violets and blue flowers. The acidity is waterfall perfect. The rich, ripe, fresh fruit, well balanced finish is simply beauty on steroids.

Photos of, Lopez de Heredia, Vat fermenters that are still in use and somewhere between 100-200 years of age (they repair them as needed to keep them tight), their cooperage and Maria José López de Heredia who now runs the family business. — 7 years ago

Jorge I. Montalvo

9.3

Dry with a peppery finish. Very drinkable — 8 years ago

Dean Quintal

9.5

Overachiever for a so called off vintage. Notes of dries black cherries black currents graphite and saddle leather. — 8 years ago

with James

Joe Lucca

9.0

When you have to travel on a Sunday, and that Sunday happens to be Mother's Day, you're not exactly psyched. This little oasis in the Delta Sky Club afforded me the opportunity to smile. Not a bad pour, regardless of the price. Typical Lynch-Bages cigar tobacco and leather with some luscious and velvety black fruit. Finished a little flat, most likely due to being open for a while in the fancy automated pour gizmo. But still smiling! — 9 years ago

Hajime Kawasaki

9.0

美味しい。
デサートワインと銘打っているが、甘さはそれほどでも無い。爽やかな飲口。
フルーティだが複雑。 — 6 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Last night in MT at the lake. Gave this several hours of air. Nice dark tawny color. Vibrant in the glass. The nose is great right away and stayed on point through the evening. Notes of black cherries, warm raspberries, old cedar, some plums and a little leather saddle. Rich and silky in the mouth. Velvet glove. Long finish. Great wine. — 6 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.8

From a pristine bottle with a 4cm fill and an appropriate cork. Reddish tawny color with reddish amber rims. Barely translucent. Looks young for its age. Notes of rich warm fruit, cassis, smoke, some cedar planks, and a whole lot of leather saddle. Incredibly rich in the mouth. Silky. Long impactful finish. This wine appears to have no end of life in sight for it. Guesses were all in the 1980’s. Amazing wine. BDay dinner 10/12. — 7 years ago

Matt

9.2

Gorgeous, true to form and place, lovely acid balance that offers a nice energy and backbone. Blackberry bramble, cocoa powder, coffee bean, smoked meat, blood sausage, wet slate. Plenty of juice and charm here. — 8 years ago

Luna

10

Juicy red berries, eucalyptus, intense floral notes. Super funky, but yet so balanced. Playful. Like butterfies in your belly, it’s like a crazy romance. One of the best I drank in 2017! — 8 years ago

Moira Anne

9.5

Delicious and crisp wine, with slight berry note, but still quite dry and smooth. Great feature at total wine in VA — 8 years ago

Saman Hosseini

Writer Maison Abattoir

9.5

Stern, complex, savage.
Cassis, crunchy blackberry, kalamata olive, licorice, herbs, celery, creosote, saddle leather. Showing well, but no hurt in cellaring this for another 10 years. — 9 years ago