CHÂTEAU PALMER

Extremely pretty, with flowers, berries, chocolate and spices. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and ripe, silky tannins; long and caressing. Beautiful. Palmer shows wonderful refinement. Best after 2009 Rating: 94 James Suckling, The Wine Spectator (Sept 2011)

Fairly deep color. Another lovely, elegant Palmer nose. It offers richness, but stays pure and delicate. (There’s almost as much Merlot (44%) in the blend as Cabernet Sauvignon (51%), one reason it’s less powerful than other vintages.) The 2001 offers scents of red fruit, blackberry, sandalwood, spice, and mocha. Follows through in a similar fashion on the palate; same delicacy and precision. It’s subtle yet graceful, nicely balanced, still needing a few more years to reach peak, although it’s most of the way there. Overall, a very strong showing. Rating: 93 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Sept 2011)

Medium-garnet colour. The nose is still very youthful with notes of ripe cassis, dark cherries, cloves, graphite, a touch of cedar and a little mint. The medium bodied, well structured palate gives medium-firm tannins, medium+ acidity with a good balance of plump, spicy fruit. The oak needs a little more time to marry and tannins are a little on the firm side but otherwise approachable now. Long finish. Drinking range: 2009 - 2025 Rating: 93 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (Feb 2009)