1991 Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux, France. I had recently tasted the 2009 Château Palmer, where you can find more on the Château and the winery. I had purchased a case of 12 bottles of the 1991 Château Palmer back in 1994, and this bottle had gotten hidden deep in the cellar. A 30 year old Bordeaux is not of the “for instant consumption” category – it requires a bit of time to open up. Once you give it time and air, it will reveal its treasures. So I decanted it (though admittedly for too short a time), and noticed its development in the course of the evening. This wine is not too old to be exposed to oxygen by way of decanting. In fact, it needed a bit more air, and nose and palate improved as we let more time pass.
The color of the 1991 Château Palmer is ruby-to-grenade, already showing signs of its age. Very noticeable when comparing with the 2009 Palmer that we tasted thereafter, which has a much younger color. In the nose, you have tertiary aromas dominating: leather, game, cigars, some cedar wood, a note of coffee. Some aromas of red fruit, redcurrant in particular. On the palate, the wine is dry, with a nice freshness, and silky tannins. A long and pleasant finish leaves a very nice overall impression. This wine may have crossed its peak, but it is definitely far from “finished” – still good for some years to come.
This 1991 Château Palmer confirms the saying that great Châteaux manage to produce great wines even in weak vintages. 1991 was a weak vintage in Bordeaux. Obviously, the 2009 Palmer was a different – and truly breathtaking – experience. Read here if you are interested.
TBM 91 points.
