Chateau Palmer 1999

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The first thing you notice is the bouquet of flowers in the perfume before discovering the essence of tobacco leaf, currants, plums and blackberries. The palate has lift, energy and layers of ripe sweet red and black fruits that linger. This is a beautiful Palmer that would be a success in any vintage. But, in 1999, this is a stunner! Drink from 2024-2040."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "In magnum, the 1999 Palmer is drinking beautifully, offering up a deep and lavish bouquet of cherries and berries mingled with hints of cigar box and violets. Full-bodied, broad and enveloping, with a sumptuous core of fruit, velvety tannins and a long, expansive finish, it's impressively seamless and concentrated and stands out as one of the vintage's high points. Drunk side by side with Château Margaux, also in magnum, it enjoyed a narrow but persuasive lead."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Karmingranat, violette Reflexe, breitere Randaufhellung. Noten von Weichseln, dunkle Mineralik, zart kräuterwürzig, balsamisch-tabakige Nuancen, dunkles Waldbeerkonfit im Hintergrund. Frisch, komplexe Textur, mit guter Säurestruktur ausgestattet, feste, reife Tannine, angenehme Extraktsüße, besitzt einigen Charme, sehr gute Länge, süßer Nachhall, sicheres weiteres Entwicklungspotenzial. Hier wird Geduld sicher belohnt."

DECANTER: "1999 was not an easy year for wine growers, but Palmer was seen right from the start as being one of the successes of the vintage. This is pretty much slap bang in its drinking window and should continue to drink well from now through to 2025 or 2030, but it is not built for such long ageing as the more structured years. Only 50% of the production made it into the estate's first wine, and that careful selection has mean plenty of fine tannins, brambly fruits and liquorice, set against sweet tannins, saffron and black pepper spices. As it opens, you get campfire, woodsmoke and truffles. Harvest September 17 to October 1, wine made by Philippe Delfaut."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 46% Merlot – exactly mirrors the make-up of the vineyard. Problems with mildew because of humid summer but homogeneous maturity. High volume and high sugars (broke all records – bigger than 2000 and 2003 – highest sugar levels until 2005). Not a classic Palmer. Markedly deep and youthful colour. Lots of coffee and fragrant spice and cedar. Intense clean cassis, touch of indulgent damson, and a note of undergrowth. More fruity than floral. Dry, smooth powerful tannins and lovely freshness – a lightness of touch that I did not expect from the colour but it fills the mouth and spreads. Depth and length but still a lightness of touch. then it comes back and fills the mouth again with plenty of flesh even though the structure is clearly there. Power and youth. Very long. (JH)."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A very pretty red with balance and attractive fruit. Underlines how attractive this vintage is and how forgotten it is as well. Medium-to-full body with firm tannins and a raspberry, blackberry and light cedar undertone. Drink or hold."

WEINWISSER: "Sehr tiefe, satte Farbe, dunkles Violett-Purpur. Herrliches Bouquet, viel Primärfrucht, reife Walderdbeernote, Kaffee. Saftiges Extrakt, schwarzer Holunder, Gerbstoffe im leicht molligen Extrakt vollständig integriert, früh schon sehr harmonisch. Ein junger Charmeur."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Delivers lots of sweet tobacco, licorice and cedar aromas. Wow. Really complex and full-bodied, with seductive, silky tannins and a long, long finish. Fabulous texture and finesse. What elegance and balance.--'89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). Drink now. 12,200 cases made."