Château Palmer Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1999

Loren Grossman

Vintner Wilde Farm Wines

Showing extremely well right now. Plum and cherry liquor with cacao nibs and cigar box. Savory herbs. Generous, velvety palate with some significant structure still showing. A 3 hour double decant helped.

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

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.

Ron R

Out with my boy, Mo, so old world in the house. Nose displays cow shit and cedar. Palate is youthful. Tannins are integrated, acid is slightly out of balance - too much. Nice notes of cherry, cardamom and saddle leather. 99 wasn’t a great vintage, so under the circumstances, this is a good effort. Not going to evolve to a better place in my opinion.

Chris McClellan

Blackcherry cassis, leather, slight soy sauce, smooth tannin wrapped in vanilla blanket...wow

Ron R

Not even surprised. Rick went to his cellar and slapped his you know what on the table. This is a beautiful example of Bdx. Cow dung nose gives way to a sweet, textured palate. Tannins are close to be resolved, but zero tertiary notes. Great acid structure completes an excellent presentation from a lack luster vintage - boys w/end in Pittsburgh.

Ron R

The man, the myth... his cellar was stormed. This Palmer was opened for 90 mins, and it presents like it was just bottled. Beautiful detail of toasted oak on the nose. Palate shows rich, extracted black fruits, with bold tannins. Bowled over with how this showed today.

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

While not the highest scoring wine of the weekend, it was my favorite. The 99 Palmer is gorgeously textured, sexy, velvet in the mouth, nicely rounded subtle dark red cassis, mint, menthol, dry stones, dark florals, forest floor, smoke, soft leather, iodine, fresh floral bouquet, beautiful round acidity and a well balanced elegant finish. Paired nicely with our Ribeye and rack of lamb. Still needed a two hour decant. If you have the 99, I’d hold it another 10 years if you have the patience.

Kristi Calcagno

Aging nicely with expected depth and complexity. Subtle restraint on the expression of terroir, cassis and plum mid palate with a light vanilla and spice finish. Overall pleased with how this showed.

Stephen Clark

#magnum

Adam Rutledge

Precision, length, elegance, terrior '99 and '04 Palmer, '08 and '10 Alter Ego