Bordeaux 2004 - 20 Years On - 33 Reds: All wines tasted blind, not decanted. Observations: 1) 2004 is a mediocre vintage overall, with many pleasant wines, but without the depth of better years. 2) At the top, the vintage produced some classic, old-school wines with lots of freshness and fresh fruit. 3) At the lower end, many wines lacked fruit and ripe tannins, resulting in some astringent and slightly drying wines. 4) An alarming number of Right Bank wines (5 out of 16, no Left Bank wine) were oxidized, including some heavyweights like Petrus, Evangile or Figeac. An unacceptably high proportion of faulty wines. 5) I’m not sure that the 2004 are currently in a good phase, many of my scores were lower than in previous tastings. The question is if it’s just a weaker phase or the beginning of the end. 6) At the top and the only wine >95pts was a layered Le Pin (rated 96pts), with a charming Vieux Chateau Certan, a surprising Issan and Clos l'Eglise, as well as an elegant Lafite sharing second place (all rated 94pts).
TN: Dark, elegant, leathery nose with ripe dark berries, a bit of wood and some slight bretty notes. Quite pleasing, layered on the nose. The palate, however is a bit weaker with ripe dark berries, earthy and brett notes but it also boasts some rather drying tannins. Overall, still good but not great. 91pts for the good nose.
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Palmer seems to have the magic touch in mediocre years, and this is a triumph in an average vintage. For myself, it is undoubtedly the wine of the vintage. It is also a relatively early developer, which means it is already showing secondary notes, and early tertiary characteristics. The nose and palate are the embodiment of Palmer with cherry and cedar, underpinned by delicate floral notes, primarily of violet. The balance and depth are faultless with the tannin fully integrated, but still retaining a modest bite, which adds to its quality. The finish is seamless and unwavering in its balance. It pushes past 30 seconds, but if longer, this could merit another point or two on its rating. A couple of hours in the decanter is beneficial. 96+
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Wines drunk around London; 1/3/2024-1/7/2024 (London, UK): Oh mah gawd. This is just so beautiful and balanced as it meanders in the glass with dark red cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar, red florals, red currants, raspberries, a touch of fresh leather, earth notes, and red berries. The Medium bodied feel is pure silk right now with crisp, medium acidity and refined, medium tannins. This was a beauty when young and it has gone up a notch since from my memory. Palmer has a tendency to really do special things in unexpected vintages and that is clearly the case here!
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Criminally underrated vintage and Palmer is one of the wine of the vintage. I have and opened VCC 2004 and Palmer showed 1-2 points better. Needs short decant and opens up with nose of black and blue fruit, currants, cherry, barnyard and truffles, pipe tobacco and cedar, cloves and anise. Palate is very smooth, polished, with fine grained tannins and rich plums and blueberries with secondary notes. Finish is medium but great wine overall.
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30 minutes in the decanter is all it takes for the wine to unfurl , and show off its display of dried flowers, cherry pipe tobacco, spice, and wet earth perfume. The palate is even better with its soft, elegant, fresh red plum and cherry profile. If the finish was just a bit longer, it would score even higher. Drink from 2023-2038.
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An hour of air - and although more is probably recommended, even after an hour this was starting to drink nicely. Got better as time went on. Up against a 1998 VCC and the majority preferred this one on the grounds that the finish was much more complete on this one. I expected very different tastes from the two wines but was struck at how similar they were — the VCC was suave and medium bodied by Pomerol standards while the Palmer was juicy and bigger than I expected for an off year. The Palmer is in no danger of fading yet, might even be a touch better in a couple of years. Score: 94. Relative to expectations: ++
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Pulled from the cellar gave it an hours air but was a bit perplexed as didn’t have much life and tasted a bit tired and funky. I think it was a bit cold and not awake as an hour later the funk had blown off and beautiful pure mature fruit, medium body, just lovely.
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This wine is in a very good spot right now. Showcasing absolute textbook Bordeaux, the wine presently has a medium garnet red color with just the slightest bricking at the rim. Nose is wonderfully earthy with charcoal, tobacco, and cedar all still supported very nicely with a background of dark fruit. Palate is as intriguingly complex as the nose with a somewhat dry texture blending well with still present fruit and medium tannins. Drank undecanted and don’t feel it was missed much. Not sure about the value here but that aside, this is an estate that always delivers, even in mediocre years like 2004.
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Decanted but started drinking within 15minutes if decanting. Plush, velvety deep red...and on palate as well. Cedar withundetgriwth. Tertiary aromas. Long , rich finish. Definitely in drinking window but with more to come. Perhaps doesn't have as much weight as some but really enjoyable
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Decanted for 2.5 hours. Garnet with a minimal clear rim. Nose is classic Bordeaux - dark fruit, graphite, vanilla. Very refreshing on the palate - blackcurrant and bramble. Creamy. Soft tannins - remains drying on the palate, but diminished on previous showings perhaps as a result of an extended decant.
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Often mentioned in the small handful of producers who should be First Growth but aren't, this lovely '04 proved why. Decanted one hour, it showed silky cassis and black plum fruit, ample depth and a long finish. Should go another ten years in good cellars.
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Opened up beautifully after 30 mins, ripe deep delicious and percectly balanced, in a perfect place right now. Drank alongside the 01 and this was the superior wine for my palette.
Bought on release. Needed4hrs decating. Nose opens up with really nice fruit. The nose was awesome with a great depth of tobacco and blackberry. Long finish. can go another 20 years easy. really a great wine you. Must decant it to get the most out of it.
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This just keeps improving, and for myself has finally laid down its marker as wine of the vintage. It is remarkable how it has delivered in a weaker year. It is now very recognisable as a classic Palmer. The nose is delightfully delicate with cherry and cedar and floral wafts of violet. The palate is gaining real depth and complexity as the secondary and tertiary notes develop. Likewise the finish is excellent and pushing 40 seconds. I suspect that another year or two will take the wine to a new level as the residual tannic notes resolve. 96+
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In short; superb and classic Bordeaux at it’s peak. Wonderful; Red fruits aromas (melange of rasberries, cherries) forest floor and blue fruits and oak in the background. This is NOT a Bordeaux for Napa Cabernet drinkers. It IS a Bordeaux for Pinot and Red Burgundy lovers; or for those who long for classic, elegant Bordeaux’s with age. Medium bodied; silky tannins and palette. Of course; could use some more intensity and perhaps alluring complexities. But, really; what is perfection without a small flaw?
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Double decant 5 hours. I knew this one will take awhile to show itself based on bottle tasted 4 years ago. It was mute on first opening but did develop nicely after 5 hours. It’s a 2004 after all. The tertiary elements are evident and the tannin is resolved. Fruit is fading.
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Amazing wine. 2 hr. decant and had with Italian style dinner. Velvety feel and very subtle fruit flavors. Probably at its peak but could last a few more years.
Loved this. It is amazing how the top Bordeau Chateaus perform, even in the so-called lesser vintages. Very dense and with all the elements in place, tobacco, forest floor, pencil shavings. Simply top class!
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Beginning to develop the classic Palmer nose. This wine is starting to show the promise that the pundits have proclaimed, but the tannin levels tell me that this will get better. No hurry to drink up.
This was bottle 7 of a case obtained soon after release. It’s always shown delicious fruit and a tannic spine, but this was my first bottle in @3 years and it’s gracefully starting to show some transition and age. The nose really stands out - blackberry, with some mineral, new leather, and touch of tobacco, and a warm, full sweetness and length that carries onto the palate. Tannins still noticeable but they’re now softer and just in the background. Perfect for a chilly Friday evening with neighbors as we move into autumn.
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The nose is so attractively aromatic and seductive. This wine is elegant, rich, silky smooth, beautifully perfumed of ripe dark berries and violets, hints of graphite and cedar, full-bodied, good balance, silky tannins with great length. It will potentially continue to improve giving +3-5 years but no reason not to drink now as it's already in the maturity stage. This is a wow wine which can play in the same league with the first growths undoubtedly. I have to accept 1 v 1 with Margaux 04' I pick the Palmer all day, surprisingly it has some similarities to Latour 04' I drank earlier which brought me close to the heaven door, only balance and finesse this Palmar is weaker but for half the price I don't hesitate to LOAD it up.
Agree with my previous note. Great extraction and solid fruit which came through in a strong but not overpowering way. Brambles, briar, and darker red/refined black fruit. Finesse but lacked a bit of integration. Probably b/c only decanted for an hour, perhaps 2 or 3 would be called for at this time. Wish I had more!
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As stated a year ago this has to be a potential wine of the vintage. I am finding the 2004 vintage as a whole becoming very approachable at a relatively young age. It is unmistakably Palmer, silky smooth packed full of dark and red berry fruits, cedar, and wafts of floral notes with violet to the fore. The nose is wonderfully aromatic and is deep and lingering. There is a good tannic bite on the palate, and I think it will continue to soften over the next couple of years. Likewise the finish is still in evolvement but excellent and well balanced. This really benefits from half a day in the decanter at this stage. In a sub par year this has really shone and will continue to improve. A post note; tasted a small amount the next day and it had further improved boding well for the future.
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This was showing lovely after an hour decant. I'd say the body is really developing, and its the structure of a wonderful Margaux that you'd expect, perhaps slightly just missing a full breadth of complexity, but given the vintage and so on, its understandable.
Really nice. Starting to come into prime, would aim to consume over the next 5 years probably.
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Rich, concentrated, silky, fresh, and fragrant, the strong notes of flowers, red pit fruits, and black currants, earth, cedar, and tobacco take no effort to find. But it is the elegant, refined expression with its length and gorgeous sense of purity on the palate that owns the day. Clearly, this is in contention for wine of the vintage.
Bought a 6-pack on futures in mid-2000s, and of 3 bottles opened thus far, this performed the best. Excellent nose and nice fruit - - drank neck & neck with a 2003 Las Cases. [EB NY on Aug. 23]
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Cork broke but came out ok on the second attempt. Closure not actually compromised fortunately. Garnet tending towards brick towards the edge with a definite clear rim. Nose is quite restrained - maybe graphite, menthol and a bit of barnyard. Palate is refreshing, savoury with a dark fruit bramble bomb. Soft fine grained tannin. Nice long finish which is perhaps a little drying but nonetheless this is a wine which exudes class and elegance.
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Tasted double blind. I very much like the sexy brett notes on the nose and palate but beside that Palmer didn’t produce the most exciting and complex in this more medicore than great vintage. Still it was a lot of fun to drink and certainly must be among the better wines of the vintage. I miss a touch more fruit sweetness to balance all the other aromas and add a bit more sexiness. Still, it has enough fruit to age and soften further but I’m not sure if it will massively improve.
TN: Wonderful nose with dark fruits and minerality as well as some stronger brett notes. I love those (if they are not overwhelming) but other might not. On the palate there is a dark fruit core, brett notes, tobacco and earthy notes as well as a strong minerality. Not the most complex aroma profile on the nose and palate but with good precision. The tannins still have some rough edges but the wine is still quite elegant and fine. Medium - length.
Decanting: Decanted for roughly 2-3 hours which seemed fine.
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This surely is a contender for wine of the vintage; (admittedly the Latour is not ready to try). This is unmistakably Château Palmer, and is in its prime drinking window at a relatively young age, (as with a lot of the top wines from 2004). This does benefit from a few hours in the decanter and preferably an hour in the glass prior to drinking. The nose is mature and deep with ripe blackcurrant and black cherry with floral overtones, primarily of violet. The palate has the typical silkiness of an excellent Palmer, but with good well balanced tannin. The finish is lengthy, but does fall apart slightly towards the end and is the only barrier at this stage to a another point or two. I would hope to up the rating in another year or two.
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This wine has really come around. It does not exhibit the perfume of the great vintages of Palmer, but the palate is well balanced and sublime. This should be worth a point or two more when the tannins are fully resolved.. Good acidity provides focus. Nice finish.
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Little seepage on the cork. Colour somewhere between ruby and garnet. Great nose with black fruit, eucalyptus, liquorice and blood. Soft palate with dark fruit - almost blackcurrant boiled sweet. Tannins are soft but rather intrusive and drying on the finish - nice but on this showing the tannins are running stronger than the fruit. Will be interesting to check out the next bottle.
Sehr feiner Margaux, extrem zugänglich, mit milden Tanninen und mittellangem Körper, schöne Süsse im Abgant, einfach sehr gut ausbalanciert. Jetzt auf dem Höhepunkt der Genussreife. Ich war positiv überrascht über diesen 2004er, eigentlich ein eher mittelprächtiger Jahrgang, aber dieser Wein ist wirklich top.
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During an exuberant wash down the 2020 Covid year with some good Bordeaux Lunch&Dinner. Nice showing for this weaker vintage. Nose fo dark fruit, baking spices. Medium bodied, good intensity and finish. 94+
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This is so much better than 4 years ago when I last had a bottle. The nose has developed and showing so much more perfume. Lovely blueberry, violet, lily perfumed fruit. Fresh and inviting. The oak I was worried about has integrated well and is barely noticeable now, just framing the fruit and is well balanced. Medium bodied in a good way, lovely fresh ripe fruit more towards the blue/ black spectrum. Still young but certainly very enjoyable now and a relative bargain in terms of Palmer pricing! I think it is a great shame that Palmer have decided to go off towards first growth pricing on release which is not justified in terms of quality. It is certainly above its third growth station and probably should be towards the pinnacle of the second growths but I haven’t read a lot of people advocating Palmer is effectively a cheap first growth. I think they have lost a generation of buyers/drinkers and that doesn’t bode well for the long-term future which is a great shame.
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Damn this is fine! Will never be the '61 but once again it's an out-performer in an otherwise unheralded vintage. Decanted one hour with minimal sediment, Margaux nose, violets, tobacco, black cherry fruit and a touch of cocoa. Medium bodied, resolved tannins--drank like silk. At its best now but can cruise from here for years.
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What a beautiful nose. Now you find cinnamon, cloves, violets, cigar wrapper, smoke, cherries and a wisp of licorice in the background. Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh, refined and with a fabulous sense of purity and symmetry, the finish is all about the silky, earthy, cherries, smoke and a hint of very dark cocoa in the long finish. With 60 minutes of air, this was showing perfectly. As a tip, this is an undervalued bottle of Palmer. If you want to experience Palmer at maturity, this is your best bet in the marketplace. The wine and this note is dedicated to CB. Palmer was always your favorite wine. You are missed.
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Only had time for a 2 hour decant on this one and it definitely would have benefited from another hour or three. Palmer always performs so well in 'average' vintages and the '04 is no exception. Lovely Margaux flowered perfume on the nose with dark fruit and a little vegetal evolution. The tannins never got in the way of this wine so it is in the drinking window. Ideally, I would give it another 3 - 5 years. The last sip was spectacular: quintessential left bank Bordeaux.
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Ein sehr bekömmlicher Margaux der jetzt seine optimale Trinkreife erreicht hat und sicher die nächsten 2-3 Jahre einen guten Trinkgenuss bietet. Der Wein ist sehr elegant, mit feinen Tanninen. Mittellang im Abgang.
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Only slightly more evolved from my 2013 note very strong berry aroma on decant got more earthy over 2hours. Savory snd deliscious palate still feels young in some ways. no rush on these
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Margaux is not my favourite commune but there is no hiding class. One of the best 04s I have tasted - I think a lot of the 04s are very ordinary or is the phrase ‘classic’. The fruit is not quite as forward as I would like on the palate but the nose is lovely and it is thoroughly pleasant to drink. Definitely drinking but many lovely years ahead - not sure it will improve though
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Drinking in its window. Loads of cassis, earth, rose bush with an inky lead undertone, Regal and polished with a red berry fruit filled finish. Fresh acidity holding this all together tight. Concentrated, sleek and powerful for the vintage. Gorgeous integrated tannin Drink now-2024.
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Last tasted 30 months ago, this has entered its drinking window, but still has future evolvement ahead of it in the next few years. I find it puzzling that some reviews are stating it is over the hill or needs to be drunk immediately; this needs some time to develop to see it at its absolute best. Admittedly the wine is probably one the most advanced of the prestige wines from the vintage, and it is fabulous now. The nose is surprisingly mature and possesses the familiar feel of great Bordeaux in its prime. The palate I still find a little green with tannin needing to further resolve. However, the balance and depth are excellent with a wonderful finish pushing 60 seconds. I am sure in a couple of years I will be rating this at least a couple of points higher. A post note; this really evolved in the glass over 3 hours and endorses my sentiment that this is going to be so much better in a couple of years.
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Alas, this was past prime when I opened it. Given that it has mostly been in good storage conditions since I bought it, it was either never destined to make the Hall of Fame, or I just waited too long to open it. It was still drinkable, mind you, but clearly the fruit had escaped long ago. Quite a shame.
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Had at a Bordeaux tasting. Very enjoyable and approachable with time in a decanter. Still many years left. Showed very well! Unsure how long in the decanter as was brought by a guest, perhaps 2 hours. Had alongside an '04 Lafite and an '04 Haut Brion. All were stylistically different (expected). Palmer had the most extraction and great/solid fruit which came through but not overpowering, Haut Brion the multilayered complexity and the expected Graves taste well integrated which made it interesting, and the Lafite had the refinement, finesse, albeit showed the youngest, and seemed to just say a little more.
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Few wines at Tequila Revolucion (Tequila Revolucion): This was decanted 2.5 hours before serving. Aromas of earth, blackberry, currant, black cherry and hint of smoke. Flavors of iron, earth, blackberry, currant and smoke. Ends with long iron and smoke driven finish of 30+ seconds. I liked this more than some of the other people. They complained it had no structure but I did not share that compliant. I will say that this still needs more time to come together in my opinion. A very solid wine from a less renown vintage.
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at the risk of a flogging by (fellow) Bdx lovers ... we had this with grilled hotdogs and baked beans, and it was spectacular. The wine has a bit of a smoky note that complemented the grill flavor. I imagine it would be nice with just about anything grilled, but probably not big enough or fat enough for steak.
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Dark crimson color, very little separation on the rim. Decanted (a bit of sediment) and let it evolve over 1-1.5 hours. Opened up with more floral notes that lay over a rich soil, tobacco and dark red fruit. Forrest berries, charred lead, bitter chocolate, mint and a well balanced finish with tanins that slightly linger. Drank with Christmas rosemary/pepper crust prime rib.
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Tasted at the Port with Palmer CEO Thomas Duroux. A real stunner 14 yrs young. So much finesse and power on this one, swaying back and forth between floral notes and forest floor. The tannins were remarkably present but not surprising given the vintage and confirmation of vineyard conditions and production controls in the winery. Sampled against the 2008, very similar but later was slightly softer and less tannic.
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Decanted for an hour, medium red, beautiful refined nose of cassis, leather, red cherries, flowers, silky tannins, classy, elegant but just doesn’t have that extra gear like in good Palmer vintages, in its drinking window 93
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Blind "20 Questions" wine Dinner (Jason and Mariellen's): Decanted 2 hours. Drank blind, I was surprised that this is so young. It tastes like a well-aged Bordeaux. Lovely sweet red fruit. The palate is a bit thin. There is funk.
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Drank with a 2 hour decant. Blind tasting, but was my wine, so I knew what it was. Group guessed the wine within the 20 questions allowed. I think 2004 was an under-rated vintage, and I will continue to seek out gems from that vintage, including this wine.
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. It smells like classic Palmer, with Margaux perfume, violet and verbena. It tastes like cassis, forest floor, sandalwood, lead pencil, violet, lavender, plum, cherry and fig. The body is medium. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity. I believe this wine is it's drinking window right now, and will likely remain there for a few more years.
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Drinking Blind at Jason's (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for 2 hours; drank 1+ glass blind over 90 minutes. Picked this as left bank Bordeaux and 2004. Really pretty on the nose with classic Margaux character and a very balanced and poised style. No surprise this turned out to Palmer in the end. Plenty of funk and saddle leather, dark berry fruits, lovely cassis, subtle florals that expand in the glass, earthy, graphite, and a balsamic top note. The palate is medium full bodied, a mix of sweet and tart berries bouncing back and forth over time, floral, lots of minerality, and soft tannins. Like so many of the '04's drinking very well. My number 3 WOTN.
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Concur with many other tasters. It is quite open at this point, and is a fine example of a floral suave Margaux, with elegant red fruits, forest floor and supple tannins on the palette.
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Drinking quite well when PnP. Gets even better after some aeration.
Very deep and fresh (but not intense or perfumey) floral notes. It feels like taking a stroll in a florist shop. Very deep and multi-layered flavours of cassis, violet, lavender, followed by a hint of cedar, tobacco, plum, vanilla. Very smooth but omnipresent tannins. Finish is long with slightly sweet undertone.
This is a very fine expression of floral Marguax.
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This 2004 Château Palmer was the wotn last night against a mish-mosh of other reds mostly from CA. I bought it en primeur about 11 yrs ago for $90. Retails about $300 now. Opened it in the morning and let it slow ox, then fully decanted about 2 hrs before drinking. Should have decanted in the morning because it continued to evolve considerably throughout the meal. Initially typical Bordeaux characteristics. After about 4 hours, it reached a stage where it smelled as if I just walked in a flower shop. It was truly spectacular.
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Drinking extremely well after 2hour decant Wonderfully balanced and open, deep dark fruit, elegant and delicious A bit uptight on opening so needs plenty of air
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The bottle was tasted during Margaux wine tasting and was opened three hours in advance. The bouquet is complex and deep with aromas of black currant, dark plums, milk chocolate, vanilla, nutmeg, and hazelnuts. It's full bodied with high acidity and intensive but soft and velveted tannins. Intensive on the palate with long finish. Fantastic!
Still on the youthful side, the wine is starting to drink after a few hours in the decanter and is very enjoyable. There is a deep floral nose along with blackcurrent and liquorice with subtle hints of raspberry. On the palate the fruit is balanced by robust tannins with tremendous depth, ending with a lengthy finish. This really does need to evolve further and for time to soften the tannin, and I would leave it for another year or two to allow the true greatness of the wine to shine through. It continued to develop in the glass giving a glimpse of its potential and I would look to be scoring this wine in the high 90's when it gets there.
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Still more fruit than tertiary notes, concentrated and dense, though very elegant. Has the acidity of 2002, the tannin of 2004 and the concentration of 2003, very long finish, great. Needs to be decanted. Beginning trinking window, will last forever. 95-98.
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The most forthcoming in a vertical of Palmer from 2004-2009 (not 05), this had started to shed its tannins and was the most open of the wines. A little va on nose, lead pencils, leather, classic claret and really most enjoyable partnered with venison
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Much more classic and more mineral characters and freshness I am being told and I would perfectly agree with that. 2005 will take a much longer time before it shows the identity of the estate where here it shows the estate now. And very soft and supple on the palate. Herb notes in the best possible way. Quite refined. Great sense of balanced and quite refined. As the wine ages the finish becomes more pronounced I am being told and yep, that is there.
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Excellent wine. Wonderful nose showing some floral elements mixed with a nice mushroomy earthiness. Good fruit on the palate with a fairly lengthy finish. As with a lot of 04's I've had recently, these seem to be drinking well right now.
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Château Palmer Vertical: Very pretty and elegant nose, actually superior to the '05. Ripe red and blueberry fruit. A little candied on the nose. Still young on the palate but more approachable and giving than the '05. Good balance and flavorful finish here.
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A 2004 dinner in Memphis. Starting to approach the middle of the drinking window. Was my #2 of the 20 wines served. Nice depth & opening up. Will be fun to follow over the next 10 years.
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Clear ruby. Lovely creamy Margaux perfume of cassis, plum and white flowers but with a noticable oaky and cedary and grassy undertone. Medium bodied but still quite tight and austere and I am worried that there is not enough fruit and structure to absorb the wood. Good attack and freshness but the finish is a bit hard and unforgiving with noticable dryness and courseness of the tannins and wood.
I know many of the comments say that this will eventually come around but it is quite hard work on its own and certainly better with food but I am not convinced at the current $150/bt auction price that this is represents good quality to price ratio. Bottle supplied directly from the chateau from a dinner two years ago.
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Dark crimson color, quite dense. Beautiful nose on opening of creme de cassis, violet, dark chocolate and cedar. Palate initially quite round and rich with intense fruit but closed down in the glass somewhat. Great density and finish despite just a touch of austerity at the end. A wine with plenty more to show. A lovely 2004.
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Painfully tannic and youthful at first, almost like drinking a barrel sample. A decant softens it up a bit, and with some more air it starts to show those dark fruited, cedary, and more flamboyant spicy/floral notes I expect from Palmer. As young as it is, there's impressive depth here and impeccable balance - I imagine this is going to be fantastic when it's eventually mature, though with the structure I imagine that'll be quite some time.
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On open, this was insanely tight, showing little but very tannic green walnut. With time, the tannin were still ever-present, but a complex nose of dried flowers, smoke, and dark fruit emerged. On the palate, quite backward, with plentiful tannin and medium acid; silky. Still painfully young, but with lots of promise.
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Revisiting an old friend. All but fully mature. Garnet red. Strawberries still in the nose with hints of balsamic. Bordeaux tends to have velvet notes on the swallow as tannins blend and mature and this wine is typical there. Rich with some lingering tannic puckers and strawberry silk. Long balanced finish.
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A bit more open than the 2006, lots of structure and much less silky and generous than I remember it to be. Very earthy. Even a little lean at times with drying tannins towards the long finish. 90-92
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Popped and poured from split. This is a medium red wine with some minor sediment at the end of the bottle. The nose carries some nice forest floor and cherry, bridging into a mouth that is lively yet poised and a crisp finish. Unfortunately, I think this may have had some minor TCA/cork taint as there was a slight overhang of funk or wet cardboard that wouldn’t go away. This was a minor complaint about an otherwise classic and nice bottle of Bordeaux, but I am still asterisking the score. 92*
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Black olives and oak on the nose. Palate dominated by tannin, not letting the fruit come out. Hot finish. Suspect bottle age will result in some improvement, but will never be a great Palmer like '70, '83, and '89.
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A drinkable, elegant style of left bank Bordeaux. Bought it, based on a great RP score. Like a lot of 2004's, bit diluted and slightly green finish. I would start drinking this wine. I noticed considerable Brettanomyces, and it appears to be unfiltered. Yet, there was nice mint and savory aromatics. Did not think decanting was of great benefit for greater than 1 hour. Drink now
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From magnum on Christmas Day. Best showing so far for this wine. In a great place right now. The 04 Bordeauxs are turning into a decent drinking vintage.
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Bei Christian an Omas 98 Geburtstag! Schöner Margauxduft. Mittlerer Körper. Anfangs noch feiner Wein mit vorhandenen Tanninen. Mit Luft und Zeit wurde aus diesem Margaux eine richtige, klassische Schönheit! Am Anfang einer längeren Genussphase. Der Wein widerspiegelt die Herkunft und den Jahrgang auf äusserst authentische weise! 94+/100
In Christian home at Grandma's 98 birthday! Beautiful Margauxnose. Medium body. Initially fine wine with tannins present. With air and time was got this Margaux a real classic beauty! At the beginning of a longer phase of enjoyment. The wine reflects the origin and vintage on extremely authentic example! 94+/100
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Drank from split with family at a belated Passover Seder. Very nice nose, very flowery and Margaux-like. Very elegant palate, with berry and tobacco dominating. Good 30 second finish. Really enjoyed.
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The wine was some shy after opening of the bottle. I was unsure for a second if it was anything wrong, but the wine opend up after some aeration. Aromas of vanilla, blackcurrant and violet. On taste, I think it was fairly "green." Some ackward really. Otherwise taste of black currant, licorice, smoke, and tofee. Relatively integrated oak. You can fine drink the wine now.
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Nose: Gorgeous florals, cherry, blackberry, slate in a beautiful perfume. Palate: So lush and elegant. Deep black raspberry, cherry and currant fruit. Polished notes of flowers, spices, coffee, and a distinct charcuterie element. Finish: Long and polished with a beautiful fruit, mineral and sweet oak influence.
This is awesome now, but will improve over the next decade. Could end up in the 96+ range for me down the road.
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I was just overcoming a cold, thus I leaned on my drinking mates for formal tasting and rating. We enjoyed this side by side with 88 Lafite - good work if you can get it, eh lads?! This was so sexy, curvy and almost savagely raw and fun. NSFW commentary hereby withheld. Could not be more excited to taste its development regularly over the coming decades. Thanks for sharing, Phil!
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Thanks to Phil for sharing this - at first, this was dense and primary but with a few hours of air, this picked up beautiful floral notes - reminding you that it's Palmer and delivering what it ought to. Will this evolve into what the 89 is now? Wait and see...
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Floral, sweet cherries, truffle, cocoa, licorice and black raspberries open the complex aromatics. Pure silk and velvet in textures, this wine serves up a soft, sexy delicious, spicy dark red berries, plums and tapenade. Drink now, or age it for more complexity. This is one of the top wines of the vintage and marks the debut of Thomas Duroux at the estate.
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A young Palmer. Garnet red. Nose with hints of strawberry licorice and slate. Great balance, still tannic and likely better in 2-4 years but very approachable (2 hours of decanting this evening). Long finish...and strawberry is the right descriptor.
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2004 Palmer Color: medium red Nose: not powerful, pretty nose of red fruits and Asian spices, espresso Palate: perfectly balanced, showing its pedigree, already showing some secondary nuances, at 10 yrs old it's approachable but with a good curve ahead but doubt be a long lasting palmer
Rated: 92+
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From magnum. 2 hour decant. Was still a little reticent at first (will decant longer next time) but after some time in the glass it opened up beautifully. Ripe fruit. In it's window but will probably improve.
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Annual Pilgrimage to Chateau Lanessan; 5/23/2014-5/25/2014 (Chateau Lanessan, Bordeaux): Tasted at Chateau Palmer. Freshly opened bottle. Even with no decanting this young wine exhibits its class early on. Dark fruits on the nose, very distinct blueberry feel, light cherry and that oh so Palmer herby,minty nose. On the palate the tannins are very much there, not a wall of tannin, but still very firm. Good structure and this needs another 5yrs minimum and has the capacity to go for long time. 93 now but with a lot way up if it follows the path it promises now
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Still young, but was drinking quite well after about an hour in a decanter. Classic Palmer nose that hits you as soon as the bottle was opened and could be smelled from the far side of the table. Clear deep ruby color to the edge. Bright red fruits and strong spice notes which were supported but leather and tobacco flavors. Given the vintage, this is a real success. This isn't the best Palmer I've ever had, but considering that this was the last affordable year, I wish I had a lot more. Unfortunately, the secondary market has caught up with the new prices.
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Tight and tannic upon opening, but with a forthcoming gorgeous nose. Ripe fruit appears after an hour or so in the glass , and a well balanced palate emerges. Good acidity and a lingering if somewhat hot finish. Much more evolved and better on day two. Suggest a two hour decant, or wait a few years. Long life ahead.
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Had this after a 2004 chateau Margaux which we decanted so not truly fair. Needed the airtime. It was tight, closed off for the first hour. Shows enormous potential.
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2004 Bordeaux ... 10 years on (Bordeaux Index London): Another dimension here, broader and richer yet retains a certain classicism. What a lovely wine! Still rather primary. I would bet that this bottle needs easily about 10 years to start its proper drinking window. While Palmer is better than Rauzan Segla, but not by too much, Château Margaux outduels Palmer with its superior finesse in 2004.
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I'm fairly certain this was decanted for a full day (my friend is the decant master!). I was geeked to drink this wine as the 04 bordeaux vintage is my vintage of the century -- not only the last affordable vintage but damn good wines, too. A little more advanced in color than I was expecting but no fatigue on the nose. Really distinct no. 2 pencil. Totally reminded me of a freshly sharpened striped NFL pencil circa 1976 that my mom would buy me from the school office. Loved those pencils. Medium to full-bodied palate with cassis, licorice, cherry, very well integrated tannins, and even a nice hit of acidity on the finish. Gorgeous bottle of 10 year old bordeaux. 93 pts.
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Decanted 4 hrs. recorked lightly, served 5 hrs. later. The nose announces itself right out of the decanter, brilliant and very classic aromas of ripe cassis, cedar, and a little bit of lead pencil and damp earth. It’s scary to think how good this nose will be in a decade or so. Darker in color than I expected, and while the wine is certainly accessible if not flat out enjoyable, it’s not over done either. By far, the richest 04 left bank Bordeaux I have had, but again, pulls it off with a certain elegance that is hard to articulate. The back half displayed a sneaky tannic structure that struck like a tiger in the tall grass, but proportionate to the rich fruit, suggesting many years of good drinking lie ahead. My 93 score is very conservative, this was a great wine, I just wanted to give myself flexibility to add 2 to 3 points when this baby matures.
Sensational wine. Extremely powerful nose of violets, sweet blackberry, truffles and licorice. Subtle tannins, medium body, and a light amount of acidity balances the wine nicely. One of the best bottles I have sampled in recent memory, just a stunning wine
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Did not show well. Not sure if didn't leave it open long enough or whether needed more time in decanter. Loved the previous bottle. Probably decanted for 4 hours then back into bottle.
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Consistently a very good wine and drinking well now and showing lots of promise. Bought a lot of 2004 luckily figuring it was inexpensive year to buy good Bordeaux. Sometimes in a so so year that works and for us in 2004 it has. These have become our go to while we wait for 96 and others to come around.
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Very dar, deep red in colour. Freshness on the nose with a hint of smoke. Blackcurrant on the palate. Complex, with a long finish. Tannins lurking in the background, but in a good way. Overall, this is a big powerful wine.
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Palmer Vertical Tasting (1982 - 2004) (Switzerland): Tasted blind: Nose of coffee, tar and dark gravy. The wine has power, it is long but at the same time dominated by dry tannins. There is plenty of sweetness (dark fruit), Mocca and plum flavor. Overall a bit one-dimensional. Good to drink now but I see more potential in a few years down the road.
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Not sure but this could have been on the edge of being corked however the scent dissipated somewhat after 4 hours. So decanted for 2 hours and drank over following 2 hours which worked well. Nose was black current, palate was black current, black raspberry and coffee. Quite understated from a complexity perspective, however really well integrated and balanced with wonderful fine tannins. Drinking beautifully now but has much life left. Would be good to give another 5 years to see how it goes. Texture had a wonderful silken quality and overall a beautiful elegant wine. Much enjoyed.
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Rubis profond, ocelle carmin. Très extrait. Très mobile. Jambes fines très nombreuses. Boisé puissant mais délicat. Nez de cerises et de fraises, de gingembre et de cacao. Fond de violettes. Très complexe. Monstrueux ! Attaque très souple et ronde. Des fruits rouges frais noyés dans un fond d'épices et de cacao. Beaucoup de matière. Arrière goût de bois brûlé. Tanins gourmands doux et intégrés. Attaque d'une souplesse incroyable. Une montagne d'équilibre. Intégration parfaite bois et fruits. Finesse, délicatesse et complexité.
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Lovely complete bordeaux with aromatics that soared from the decanter (1 hour oaf air). There was a corn hhusky earthy smell I associate with bordeaux merlot and cedar and other floral elements. The color was a warm ruby with clear rim and the wine was deliscious on the palate.93-94
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Delicate nose, perfumed with secondary flavours slowly evolving, very elegant. On the palate, great grip and freshness, tannins still very present but round and sweet and just a touch drying. Everything is in the right place here, very good balance, silky, long, with a good future. An outstanding wine.
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Delicious. Took an hour to open up but was ripe, delicious, balanced. Pencil, black currant, vanilla, cedar. Quite ripe for 04. Grippy but not unpleasantly so. Knew you were alive.
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Bordeaux 2004 (@ Bottles; Sas van Gent, Netherlands): Beautiful bouquet with cassis and other dark forest fruits, cedar, luxurious oak and chocolate. On the palate a slightly sweet start with dark fruits, beautiful smoky oak, high concentration and just a little bell pepper. The tannin is still very youthful. This is a luxurious and classical wine, already showing what it has in store, and from 2018 onwards this will be great. 94+
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Bordeaux 2004 - an overview (Restaurant Bottles, Sas van Gent): Wow! This is really full of elegance, yet strong and muscular like a noble steed. Excellent balance between crunchy fruit and rustic odours. It's fresh, bright and typical. This wine made me smile. Yeah man! 18.5/20 (group scores 92-96)
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Solbær, mokka, eik og frukt på nesa. Noe alkostikk. Grov tanninstruktur, rik munn, litt urter. God lengde. Framstår ganske saftig men likevel skuffende. Må få mange år.
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Ch. Palmer vertikal (Oslo): Klar, mørk rød med snev av blått. Pur ung, primær nese med knuste, mørksvarte bær, lakris og pepper. Stram og strukturert, tørr frukt med flott fruktsødme. Plush stuktur med fin intensitet, frisk og saftig syre. Lett grove tanniner. Fin, krydret lenge. La ligge. 92+ P
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Palmer vertical: CS dominated nose with black currants; disjointed in the mouth: lots of acidity and tannins – but the fruit is warm, not very complex, and oaky. May integrate, but I am not entirely convinced.
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A mini Palmer vertical: Opaque, purple color gem. Mesmerizing nose of floral, potpourri, violet, blackberry, cloves, wet earth, cherry liqueur, vanilla, dried leather and a hint of mint. This wine is rich both in aromas and texture, when it hits your palate, there are black fruits, truffle, dark chocolate, tobacco and tea leaf. Round, velvety, lush, prominent yet chewy tannins. Wonderful structure with just right level of acidity to keep it all fresh and balanced. Long finish with dark cocoa, espresso, tobacco and smoke. This wine can age and will certainly turn out great down the road!
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The debut vintage of Palmer for Thomas Duroux is filled with earth, forest floor, blackberry, truffle, tobacco, floral and spice aromas. Full bodied and displaying luscious, ripe, sweet, spicy black cherry flavors, this is supple, round and velvety in texture. You can drink this now, or wait a decade, when it will be more complex.
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Drank from magnum after 3 hour slow ox. Just a truly remarkable wine with perfect balance and great depth of fruit. A nice softness and complete experience in this under rated vintage. Great for short term drinking.
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Deep ruby/purple color with an alluring nose dark berries, sandalwood, leather, and smoke. The palate is rich, structured, and multi-layered with flavors black cherries, currant, dried plum, smoke, bay leaf, espresso, lead pencil shavings, and rich Margaux earth. Finishes long, fresh and velvety. Just outstanding. Drink now until 2024.
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Great to be able to try this just 18mos after a first bottle. Strikingly different style than the other bdx, more concentrated, and fruit forward. Splash decanted. Great fruit forward nose of cassis and black currants and still with a touch of unintegrated vanilla/oak. Great dark fruit on the palate, quite lush. Big chewy tannins in the background that really carry through on a long berry filled finish. Concentrated and ripe, though balanced and polished. Seems to show a softer, merlot dominated character. This should have a long life ahead. 92-93
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Took about 2 hours in the decanter to deliver, good floral nose, with complex aromas on fruit and minerals. Tannins not fully integrated but does not lessen the drinking pleasure. Still young of course but drinkable if decanted long enough.
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Really glad I got the chance to taste this as I have a bottle of my own in the cellar. A little less of everything than I had expected from this chateau. Dry leather saddle, withered black cherry and dirt road. Lots of earth. A lead pencil and rusty nail quality as well. Much more rustic red fruit than plums and purple qualities I've tasted from Palmer in the past. I wonder if this will improve much with time.
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Double decanted for 3 hours New Years Day wine. Served with prime rib and butternut squash soup. Colour: Some sediment in the bottle. Dark ruby red but not inky purple. Looks massive. Nose: Taste: THis was a really memorable wine. The wine was powerful yet not at all overwhelming in all aspects. Tannins were there yet well integrated into the wine. In a word this wine was balanced in all areas. I really enjoyed this wine throughout the measl and afterwards...great experience.
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Chateau Palmer Dinner (Boka - Chicago IL): Floral and quite alluring even in its youth. Very fruit driven with a few nice licorice and herb hints in the background. Drinking well already, very easy to enjoy.
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Tasted at the WS Grand Tour in Boston. I wasn't at all impressed with this wine. If I didn't know better it seemed like it was past it's prime. DRINK NOW.
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Eye: deep purple color. Nose: barnyard, red berries, smoke, leather, cherry, spice. Palate: leather, berries, lighter than expected, moderate finish, herbal. A bit underwhelming...
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Sophistication and finess after the Alter Egos. Tannins are softer and more seductive, smell and taste of wood but not in an over-powering way. Depth and complexity, more fruit, tobacco, sweaty leather. Long finish.
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WS Grand Tour Boston (Copley Marriott): Nose: barnyard, horse hair, red currents, cherry jam, and slight coconut notes. Perfumed nose shows some florals and spice as well. Palate: hits on the thin side, a very feminine wine. Red fruit, leather and sweet berry notes dominate. Finish: moderate, begins to show some herb notes late.
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2011 Simple Series 6: WOTN (Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck @ Paragon): Alcohol :: 13% Served right after the L’evangile, this showed very good liveliness with its fresh aromas of vanilla, tobacco leaves, cigar box, and pure cassis fruits that continue to pamper the palate with its finely texture, sweet pure cassis fruits and polished tannin. The finish is complex, sappy with good freshness, harmony and tension. Everything is so tightly coiled, but, with finesse and I could see its bright future. Excellent wine. Buy - Maybe - Yes.
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2011 Simple Series VI: Dave's Birthday (Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck, Paragon): Pretty good, but boy this was modernly styled. Ripe plums and cassis scents on the nose were accompanied by a hint of earth and a dose of sweet oak hints of oak. There was a nice gummy quality to the cassis and plum fruit on the nose, with a nice ring of purity, but the wine seemed more about heft, depth and weight than elegance at this point. Balance was okay barring some heat towards the end, but this does need time to unfold. Right at the finish, there were some drying, slightly powdery tannins along with very modern sweet vanilla and mocha notes. Good but not great at the moment - this would be interesting to revisit in 10 years' time.
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This wine shows margaux typicity with its elegant profile - moderate structure - smooth tannins. The finish is a bit short even for this style of wine. An easy drink now. This is not one for the ages but certainly can be enjoyed over the next decade.
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This shows deep and intense red and black fruits, but it isn't in any way over the top. Indeed, it's very well balanced. Young but drinking nicely now, and beautifully textured despite still-strong tannins.
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Ruby red with a hint of garnet. Cigar smoke aromas with a gentle hint of oak. Fresh and silky smooth with great balance and a lovely earthy, hedgerow flavour. A touch light in the middle which stops this from being very good.
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Margaux Horizontal 2004 (Toast Bistro, San Antonio): A stunning Palmer which I ranked #2. I had this easily marked as Margaux with nose of crushed rocks, violets, and graphite. Very juicy and sweet, but balanced with notes of dark berries, mocha, minerals, vanilla. A touch of oak was noticeable on mouthpuckering finish. Impressive density of the fruit. I marked this as most tannic of my top three.
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2004 Margaux horizontal (Toast Bistro, San Antonio, TX): Cherry and licorice nose, rather concentrated and fragrant. Distinctly darker fruit profile than the other margaux, but with some cherry , blackberry, and lavender poking through. Still Margaux but by far the most concentrated fruit. Long complex finish where the oak influence really comes forward, with cedary overtones. Non-blind tasting later, more floral on the nose, with slightly candied fruit on the palate, and coarse prominent tannins that come out with air. 91 initially though bumped to 92 after spending more time with it. Noticeable that this has the highest level of merlot in this tasting with the darker fruit profile. This should unwind and improve with time.
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2004 Palmer will drink well young for Chateau Palmer. This is good for consumers not willing to wait as Palmer usually takes at least 10-20 years before it matures. Filled with cassis, blackberry, spice, earth and floral aromas, this full bodied, silky wine is elegant and rich. The long pure, fresh finish feels like velvet in your mouth. This was a bottle popped and poured. A few more years will make this wine even better, This is the Palmer to buy in today's marketplace for price and quality.
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Left in decanter for close to 2 hours before putting it back in the bottle for transport to the restaurant. Served blind, immediately nearly everyone picked it as the Bordeaux in the lineup. Dry, rich, good fruit but still tight. An hour later some chocolate notes. After 2 hours in the glass the wine turned meaty with the tannins really picking up. By the way this developed even after so many hours exposed to air, it seems this needs a very long time in the bottle before it becomes approachable. Not too interesting at this point. Leave alone for at least another 5 years.
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Palmer Vertical with Thomas Duroux (La Plume, Jefferson Hotel, Washington DC): A wonderful comparison having just had the 04 Alter Ego. They sit next to each other like brothers of different stature. The Palmer has better breed and focus; it is tailored iwth more precision. An alacrity and clearer pitch on the fruit and more perfume on the nose. It is more expansive and brooding, but still has the same tobaccoy quality as the Alter Ego. Hallmark tones of kirsch and violets with excellent balance. The wine is soft with a supple round mouth feel but with enough integrity to age gracefully. A wine that has a bright future.
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While very young, with sufficient air this is already very good, especially on the nose. I could smell this wine all day long. Just more class than the also very good Malescot St. Ex.
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Thematic tasting of Bordeaux 2004 (Crystal Wines): Flower scented smoked meats, brambly cherries. Good feeling of quiet strength but needs more structure. Finishes on dried herbs and nutmeg. Really underwhelming for the price. Reasonably masculine but a boorish guy rather than the princely status given to its name. Meh!
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2004 - The Last Affordable Vintage? (Sweets and Savories. Fullerton near Ashland. Chicago. IL): Sight: Lighter in color than the other 2004 bordeaux's this evening. Medium red color. High viscosity. Nose: Quite floral. Boatload of perfume wisping up and out of the glass. The smell is captivating and incredible. Taste: In a word - Beauty. Silk, flowers, finesse of a high caste. Overall: Awesome. 93-94 points. This will climb up the point scale in time (IMO)
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taste: very polished feel, but young at the same time with small berries, all sorts of florals, leather, and sweet red cherries
overall: this was my co-WOTN. Both this and the le gay were on another level(though for some reason the angelus won, even though it didn't win WOTF). A very beautiful Palmer with it's sheer elegance and ingrid bergman-like class and beauty. Silky berry attack that fluidly gives way to a sweet red cherry finish. This wine will certainly reward patience as it will get even more beautiful with time
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3 excellent 2004 bordeauxs: Mocca, roasted notes, coffee, vanilla, wood. A very full-on style; mixed with blackberry and cassis. I did not get the Margaux floral notes at all. Very well made but lacking balance, elegance and depth to my taste. long finish. If this were a 25 EUR bottle, I'd love it but at +100EUR..., no way. Cos d'estournel and especially la mission haut brion showed a lot better. 89-90 pts
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The first vintage for Thomas Duroux is big, rich and concentrated as was well as opulent. Tannic, but the tannins are elegant and ripe. Filled with ripe dark fruit, smoke, caramel, licorice and truffle, I'd start opening this velvety textured wine in 2015 and enjoy for at least 20 more years after that.
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Poker Night at my place (My house): Served blind to me, and double blind to the group. Very Dark purple Nose of flowers, toast, meat and leather. Lively and fresh fruit flavors (cherry and blackberry) on the palate. However this felt a little awkward. Maybe it is just because of its age. I thought it was a little disjointed. The finish was short and bitter. This should improve with age.
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Palmer vertical at Morton's, NYC: Clove, sweet spice, a bit flabby with acidic notes. This wine seemed a completely different animal than previous vintages. B
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Deep purple-red. Nose of iodine, saline and perfume. Mouth-coating palate that integrates well. Tannins are present but not obstructing from the nice minerally finish.
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I have a feeling that this is an excellent wine that is just not my cup of tea. Beautiful dark purple color and expresive nose for such a young wine. Definitely softer than the northwern medoc and has a flavor profile that left me wondering. Is this what Margeaux is about? More floral?? than fruit??? Had another glass on 2/25/08 and seemed more to my liking. NO score in fairness to the wine.
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Dark purple, young. Pleasant if a little quiet nose with black berries, non cloying sweetness, moderate oak and developed herbal notes. Medium body, rather soft tannins. The palate seemed a little more oaky than the nose. Black cherry and coffee flavours, very good balancing accidity, interesting, pretty long.
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Aromatic nose with spices, tobacco and black fruit (plums, dark cherries). Balanced palate with refreshing acidity, elegant tannins, delicious fruit tones, all supported by spices, coffee and tobacco. Very classy wine, at the moment accessible in its youth.
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The first Palmer of the tasting. At this point the '00, '02 and '04 have about 1 hr.'s time in the glass. 2004: All I have written down is nice floral notes, BLUEBERRY and cigar on the palate. I really enjoyed this wine as well as the 04 Alter Ego. One thing that still sticks with me is I wonder how much of this fruity, fresh character is due to it's extremely young age. I wonder in another couple of years if this will still be as enjoyable. I plan to pick some up and track it on the long term. My #2 of the Palmer's and #1 of the first flight.
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3/24/2024 - Eric wrote:
2004 Bordeaux at 20 years courtesy of Mark Taylor; 3/23/2024-3/24/2024 (Atlanta, GA): Higher alcohol, slightly leafy, gaining tobacco, mmm, cranberry, firm, powerful, really tannic but not like the Lafite. My #4 and the group #4. Incorrectly guessed as Leoville Las Cases.
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3/16/2024 - jjhorsey Likes this wine:
Delicious.
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2/24/2024 - Cailles wrote: 91 Points
Bordeaux 2004 - 20 Years On - 33 Reds: All wines tasted blind, not decanted. Observations: 1) 2004 is a mediocre vintage overall, with many pleasant wines, but without the depth of better years. 2) At the top, the vintage produced some classic, old-school wines with lots of freshness and fresh fruit. 3) At the lower end, many wines lacked fruit and ripe tannins, resulting in some astringent and slightly drying wines. 4) An alarming number of Right Bank wines (5 out of 16, no Left Bank wine) were oxidized, including some heavyweights like Petrus, Evangile or Figeac. An unacceptably high proportion of faulty wines. 5) I’m not sure that the 2004 are currently in a good phase, many of my scores were lower than in previous tastings. The question is if it’s just a weaker phase or the beginning of the end. 6) At the top and the only wine >95pts was a layered Le Pin (rated 96pts), with a charming Vieux Chateau Certan, a surprising Issan and Clos l'Eglise, as well as an elegant Lafite sharing second place (all rated 94pts).
TN: Dark, elegant, leathery nose with ripe dark berries, a bit of wood and some slight bretty notes. Quite pleasing, layered on the nose. The palate, however is a bit weaker with ripe dark berries, earthy and brett notes but it also boasts some rather drying tannins. Overall, still good but not great. 91pts for the good nose.
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1/12/2024 - djhammond Likes this wine: 96 Points
Palmer seems to have the magic touch in mediocre years, and this is a triumph in an average vintage. For myself, it is undoubtedly the wine of the vintage. It is also a relatively early developer, which means it is already showing secondary notes, and early tertiary characteristics. The nose and palate are the embodiment of Palmer with cherry and cedar, underpinned by delicate floral notes, primarily of violet. The balance and depth are faultless with the tannin fully integrated, but still retaining a modest bite, which adds to its quality. The finish is seamless and unwavering in its balance. It pushes past 30 seconds, but if longer, this could merit another point or two on its rating. A couple of hours in the decanter is beneficial. 96+
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1/3/2024 - KeithAkers wrote: 95 Points
Wines drunk around London; 1/3/2024-1/7/2024 (London, UK): Oh mah gawd. This is just so beautiful and balanced as it meanders in the glass with dark red cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar, red florals, red currants, raspberries, a touch of fresh leather, earth notes, and red berries. The Medium bodied feel is pure silk right now with crisp, medium acidity and refined, medium tannins. This was a beauty when young and it has gone up a notch since from my memory. Palmer has a tendency to really do special things in unexpected vintages and that is clearly the case here!
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12/25/2023 - gilrbo wrote:
Firm but elegant and well balanced.
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12/17/2023 - advinm41 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Criminally underrated vintage and Palmer is one of the wine of the vintage. I have and opened VCC 2004 and Palmer showed 1-2 points better. Needs short decant and opens up with nose of black and blue fruit, currants, cherry, barnyard and truffles, pipe tobacco and cedar, cloves and anise. Palate is very smooth, polished, with fine grained tannins and rich plums and blueberries with secondary notes. Finish is medium but great wine overall.
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12/17/2023 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
30 minutes in the decanter is all it takes for the wine to unfurl , and show off its display of dried flowers, cherry pipe tobacco, spice, and wet earth perfume. The palate is even better with its soft, elegant, fresh red plum and cherry profile. If the finish was just a bit longer, it would score even higher. Drink from 2023-2038.
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9/25/2023 - JJYoyo Likes this wine: 94 Points
An hour of air - and although more is probably recommended, even after an hour this was starting to drink nicely. Got better as time went on. Up against a 1998 VCC and the majority preferred this one on the grounds that the finish was much more complete on this one. I expected very different tastes from the two wines but was struck at how similar they were — the VCC was suave and medium bodied by Pomerol standards while the Palmer was juicy and bigger than I expected for an off year. The Palmer is in no danger of fading yet, might even be a touch better in a couple of years.
Score: 94. Relative to expectations: ++
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7/30/2023 - jmoon Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pulled from the cellar gave it an hours air but was a bit perplexed as didn’t have much life and tasted a bit tired and funky. I think it was a bit cold and not awake as an hour later the funk had blown off and beautiful pure mature fruit, medium body, just lovely.
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7/28/2023 - Vinterest Angus Likes this wine: 94 Points
Splash double decant with easy bbq. Sensational, was everything that was expected and more. a great performing 'off-vintage' of this wonderful estate.
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6/27/2023 - hrazdiiv Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine is in a very good spot right now. Showcasing absolute textbook Bordeaux, the wine presently has a medium garnet red color with just the slightest bricking at the rim. Nose is wonderfully earthy with charcoal, tobacco, and cedar all still supported very nicely with a background of dark fruit. Palate is as intriguingly complex as the nose with a somewhat dry texture blending well with still present fruit and medium tannins. Drank undecanted and don’t feel it was missed much. Not sure about the value here but that aside, this is an estate that always delivers, even in mediocre years like 2004.
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4/15/2023 - le_franc_de_pied wrote: 92 Points
Decanted but started drinking within 15minutes if decanting. Plush, velvety deep red...and on palate as well. Cedar withundetgriwth. Tertiary aromas. Long , rich finish. Definitely in drinking window but with more to come. Perhaps doesn't have as much weight as some but really enjoyable
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3/14/2023 - steinersing wrote: 93 Points
pretty good stage now. balanced and slightly introvert.
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3/4/2023 - J'agnes Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 2.5 hours. Garnet with a minimal clear rim. Nose is classic Bordeaux - dark fruit, graphite, vanilla. Very refreshing on the palate - blackcurrant and bramble. Creamy. Soft tannins - remains drying on the palate, but diminished on previous showings perhaps as a result of an extended decant.
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2/1/2023 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Often mentioned in the small handful of producers who should be First Growth but aren't, this lovely '04 proved why. Decanted one hour, it showed silky cassis and black plum fruit, ample depth and a long finish. Should go another ten years in good cellars.
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1/21/2023 - jmoon Likes this wine: 96 Points
Opened up beautifully after 30 mins, ripe deep delicious and percectly balanced, in a perfect place right now. Drank alongside the 01 and this was the superior wine for my palette.
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1/18/2023 - pawine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bought on release. Needed4hrs decating. Nose opens up with really nice fruit. The nose was awesome with a great depth of tobacco and blackberry. Long finish. can go another 20 years easy. really a great wine you. Must decant it to get the most out of it.
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1/18/2023 - djhammond Likes this wine: 96 Points
This just keeps improving, and for myself has finally laid down its marker as wine of the vintage. It is remarkable how it has delivered in a weaker year. It is now very recognisable as a classic Palmer. The nose is delightfully delicate with cherry and cedar and floral wafts of violet. The palate is gaining real depth and complexity as the secondary and tertiary notes develop. Likewise the finish is excellent and pushing 40 seconds. I suspect that another year or two will take the wine to a new level as the residual tannic notes resolve. 96+
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12/29/2022 - Winemaker51 Likes this wine: 96 Points
In short; superb and classic Bordeaux at it’s peak. Wonderful; Red fruits aromas (melange of rasberries, cherries) forest floor and blue fruits and oak in the background. This is NOT a Bordeaux for Napa Cabernet drinkers. It IS a Bordeaux for Pinot and Red Burgundy lovers; or for those who long for classic, elegant Bordeaux’s with age. Medium bodied; silky tannins and palette. Of course; could use some more intensity and perhaps alluring complexities. But, really; what is perfection without a small flaw?
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12/27/2022 - acheng wrote: 90 Points
Double decant 5 hours. I knew this one will take awhile to show itself based on bottle tasted 4 years ago. It was mute on first opening but did develop nicely after 5 hours. It’s a 2004 after all. The tertiary elements are evident and the tannin is resolved. Fruit is fading.
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12/25/2022 - pluethi wrote:
Christmas with Franco & Brothers
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12/16/2022 - troger Likes this wine: 97 Points
Amazing wine. 2 hr. decant and had with Italian style dinner. Velvety feel and very subtle fruit flavors. Probably at its peak but could last a few more years.
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12/10/2022 - Thomas123 wrote: 97 Points
Loved this. It is amazing how the top Bordeau Chateaus perform, even in the so-called lesser vintages. Very dense and with all the elements in place, tobacco, forest floor, pencil shavings. Simply top class!
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12/6/2022 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
Salon Focofi Paris walkabout and dinner, so no detailed tasting notes. From DMG. A bit strict still.
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11/20/2022 - melzar wrote: 92 Points
Beginning to develop the classic Palmer nose. This wine is starting to show the promise that the pundits have proclaimed, but the tannin levels tell me that this will get better. No hurry to drink up.
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9/23/2022 - kabert Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was bottle 7 of a case obtained soon after release. It’s always shown delicious fruit and a tannic spine, but this was my first bottle in @3 years and it’s gracefully starting to show some transition and age. The nose really stands out - blackberry, with some mineral, new leather, and touch of tobacco, and a warm, full sweetness and length that carries onto the palate. Tannins still noticeable but they’re now softer and just in the background. Perfect for a chilly Friday evening with neighbors as we move into autumn.
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9/3/2022 - Winsip Likes this wine: 96 Points
The nose is so attractively aromatic and seductive. This wine is elegant, rich, silky smooth, beautifully perfumed of ripe dark berries and violets, hints of graphite and cedar, full-bodied, good balance, silky tannins with great length. It will potentially continue to improve giving +3-5 years but no reason not to drink now as it's already in the maturity stage.
This is a wow wine which can play in the same league with the first growths undoubtedly. I have to accept 1 v 1 with Margaux 04' I pick the Palmer all day, surprisingly it has some similarities to Latour 04' I drank earlier which brought me close to the heaven door, only balance and finesse this Palmar is weaker but for half the price I don't hesitate to LOAD it up.
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8/22/2022 - spineguy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Agree with my previous note. Great extraction and solid fruit which came through in a strong but not overpowering way. Brambles, briar, and darker red/refined black fruit. Finesse but lacked a bit of integration. Probably b/c only decanted for an hour, perhaps 2 or 3 would be called for at this time. Wish I had more!
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8/9/2022 - curtr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great with lamb chops. Drink now-2028.
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2/9/2022 - djhammond Likes this wine: 95 Points
As stated a year ago this has to be a potential wine of the vintage. I am finding the 2004 vintage as a whole becoming very approachable at a relatively young age. It is unmistakably Palmer, silky smooth packed full of dark and red berry fruits, cedar, and wafts of floral notes with violet to the fore. The nose is wonderfully aromatic and is deep and lingering. There is a good tannic bite on the palate, and I think it will continue to soften over the next couple of years. Likewise the finish is still in evolvement but excellent and well balanced. This really benefits from half a day in the decanter at this stage. In a sub par year this has really shone and will continue to improve. A post note; tasted a small amount the next day and it had further improved boding well for the future.
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12/28/2021 - Wino133 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This was showing lovely after an hour decant. I'd say the body is really developing, and its the structure of a wonderful Margaux that you'd expect, perhaps slightly just missing a full breadth of complexity, but given the vintage and so on, its understandable.
Really nice. Starting to come into prime, would aim to consume over the next 5 years probably.
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11/19/2021 - merlotsmile Likes this wine: 94 Points
Vinminnen 6
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9/7/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
Rich, concentrated, silky, fresh, and fragrant, the strong notes of flowers, red pit fruits, and black currants, earth, cedar, and tobacco take no effort to find. But it is the elegant, refined expression with its length and gorgeous sense of purity on the palate that owns the day. Clearly, this is in contention for wine of the vintage.
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8/26/2021 - jmcnewjersey Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bought a 6-pack on futures in mid-2000s, and of 3 bottles opened thus far, this performed the best. Excellent nose and nice fruit - - drank neck & neck with a 2003 Las Cases. [EB NY on Aug. 23]
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7/3/2021 - J'agnes Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cork broke but came out ok on the second attempt. Closure not actually compromised fortunately. Garnet tending towards brick towards the edge with a definite clear rim. Nose is quite restrained - maybe graphite, menthol and a bit of barnyard. Palate is refreshing, savoury with a dark fruit bramble bomb. Soft fine grained tannin. Nice long finish which is perhaps a little drying but nonetheless this is a wine which exudes class and elegance.
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6/23/2021 - Cailles wrote: 93 Points
Tasted double blind. I very much like the sexy brett notes on the nose and palate but beside that Palmer didn’t produce the most exciting and complex in this more medicore than great vintage. Still it was a lot of fun to drink and certainly must be among the better wines of the vintage. I miss a touch more fruit sweetness to balance all the other aromas and add a bit more sexiness. Still, it has enough fruit to age and soften further but I’m not sure if it will massively improve.
TN: Wonderful nose with dark fruits and minerality as well as some stronger brett notes. I love those (if they are not overwhelming) but other might not. On the palate there is a dark fruit core, brett notes, tobacco and earthy notes as well as a strong minerality. Not the most complex aroma profile on the nose and palate but with good precision. The tannins still have some rough edges but the wine is still quite elegant and fine. Medium - length.
Decanting: Decanted for roughly 2-3 hours which seemed fine.
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5/5/2021 - djhammond Likes this wine: 95 Points
This surely is a contender for wine of the vintage; (admittedly the Latour is not ready to try). This is unmistakably Château Palmer, and is in its prime drinking window at a relatively young age, (as with a lot of the top wines from 2004). This does benefit from a few hours in the decanter and preferably an hour in the glass prior to drinking. The nose is mature and deep with ripe blackcurrant and black cherry with floral overtones, primarily of violet. The palate has the typical silkiness of an excellent Palmer, but with good well balanced tannin. The finish is lengthy, but does fall apart slightly towards the end and is the only barrier at this stage to a another point or two. I would hope to up the rating in another year or two.
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4/8/2021 - melzar wrote: 92 Points
This wine has really come around. It does not exhibit the perfume of the great vintages of Palmer, but the palate is well balanced and sublime. This should be worth a point or two more when the tannins are fully resolved.. Good acidity provides focus. Nice finish.
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4/2/2021 - J'agnes Likes this wine: 92 Points
Little seepage on the cork. Colour somewhere between ruby and garnet. Great nose with black fruit, eucalyptus, liquorice and blood. Soft palate with dark fruit - almost blackcurrant boiled sweet. Tannins are soft but rather intrusive and drying on the finish - nice but on this showing the tannins are running stronger than the fruit. Will be interesting to check out the next bottle.
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12/25/2020 - Lukas1976 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Sehr feiner Margaux, extrem zugänglich, mit milden Tanninen und mittellangem Körper, schöne Süsse im Abgant, einfach sehr gut ausbalanciert. Jetzt auf dem Höhepunkt der Genussreife. Ich war positiv überrascht über diesen 2004er, eigentlich ein eher mittelprächtiger Jahrgang, aber dieser Wein ist wirklich top.
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12/21/2020 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
During an exuberant wash down the 2020 Covid year with some good Bordeaux Lunch&Dinner. Nice showing for this weaker vintage. Nose fo dark fruit, baking spices. Medium bodied, good intensity and finish. 94+
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12/19/2020 - dchain Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is so much better than 4 years ago when I last had a bottle. The nose has developed and showing so much more perfume. Lovely blueberry, violet, lily perfumed fruit. Fresh and inviting. The oak I was worried about has integrated well and is barely noticeable now, just framing the fruit and is well balanced. Medium bodied in a good way, lovely fresh ripe fruit more towards the blue/ black spectrum. Still young but certainly very enjoyable now and a relative bargain in terms of Palmer pricing! I think it is a great shame that Palmer have decided to go off towards first growth pricing on release which is not justified in terms of quality. It is certainly above its third growth station and probably should be towards the pinnacle of the second growths but I haven’t read a lot of people advocating Palmer is effectively a cheap first growth. I think they have lost a generation of buyers/drinkers and that doesn’t bode well for the long-term future which is a great shame.
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12/17/2020 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Damn this is fine! Will never be the '61 but once again it's an out-performer in an otherwise unheralded vintage. Decanted one hour with minimal sediment, Margaux nose, violets, tobacco, black cherry fruit and a touch of cocoa. Medium bodied, resolved tannins--drank like silk. At its best now but can cruise from here for years.
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11/7/2020 - curtr Likes this wine:
Decant 1 hour. Perfume, nice depth, resolved. Drink now - 2027
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9/20/2020 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
What a beautiful nose. Now you find cinnamon, cloves, violets, cigar wrapper, smoke, cherries and a wisp of licorice in the background. Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh, refined and with a fabulous sense of purity and symmetry, the finish is all about the silky, earthy, cherries, smoke and a hint of very dark cocoa in the long finish. With 60 minutes of air, this was showing perfectly. As a tip, this is an undervalued bottle of Palmer. If you want to experience Palmer at maturity, this is your best bet in the marketplace. The wine and this note is dedicated to CB. Palmer was always your favorite wine. You are missed.
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9/6/2020 - Hanjob68 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Only had time for a 2 hour decant on this one and it definitely would have benefited from another hour or three. Palmer always performs so well in 'average' vintages and the '04 is no exception. Lovely Margaux flowered perfume on the nose with dark fruit and a little vegetal evolution. The tannins never got in the way of this wine so it is in the drinking window. Ideally, I would give it another 3 - 5 years. The last sip was spectacular: quintessential left bank Bordeaux.
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4/10/2020 - Lukas1976 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ein sehr bekömmlicher Margaux der jetzt seine optimale Trinkreife erreicht hat und sicher die nächsten 2-3 Jahre einen guten Trinkgenuss bietet. Der Wein ist sehr elegant, mit feinen Tanninen. Mittellang im Abgang.
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3/9/2020 - VoteferPedro wrote: 93 Points
Only slightly more evolved from my 2013 note
very strong berry aroma on decant got more earthy over 2hours. Savory snd deliscious palate still feels young in some ways. no rush on these
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2/29/2020 - HENNO1 wrote: 93 Points
Margaux is not my favourite commune but there is no hiding class. One of the best 04s I have tasted - I think a lot of the 04s are very ordinary or is the phrase ‘classic’. The fruit is not quite as forward as I would like on the palate but the nose is lovely and it is thoroughly pleasant to drink. Definitely drinking but many lovely years ahead - not sure it will improve though
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2/20/2020 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine:
Dark still, cigar box, typical Palmer elegance, balanced & finesse
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1/4/2020 - curtr Likes this wine:
Decant 1 hr.
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1/2/2020 - Idrebin wrote:
Corked
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12/31/2019 - Poisey wrote: 93 Points
Drinking in its window. Loads of cassis, earth, rose bush with an inky lead undertone, Regal and polished with a red berry fruit filled finish. Fresh acidity holding this all together tight. Concentrated, sleek and powerful for the vintage. Gorgeous integrated tannin Drink now-2024.
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11/28/2019 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 94 Points
From magnum and absolutely stellar. Minerals, graphite and tobacco. Explosive nose. Lovely!
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11/21/2019 - djhammond Likes this wine: 94 Points
Last tasted 30 months ago, this has entered its drinking window, but still has future evolvement ahead of it in the next few years. I find it puzzling that some reviews are stating it is over the hill or needs to be drunk immediately; this needs some time to develop to see it at its absolute best. Admittedly the wine is probably one the most advanced of the prestige wines from the vintage, and it is fabulous now. The nose is surprisingly mature and possesses the familiar feel of great Bordeaux in its prime. The palate I still find a little green with tannin needing to further resolve. However, the balance and depth are excellent with a wonderful finish pushing 60 seconds. I am sure in a couple of years I will be rating this at least a couple of points higher. A post note; this really evolved in the glass over 3 hours and endorses my sentiment that this is going to be so much better in a couple of years.
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11/16/2019 - RobbieD68 wrote:
Alas, this was past prime when I opened it. Given that it has mostly been in good storage conditions since I bought it, it was either never destined to make the Hall of Fame, or I just waited too long to open it. It was still drinkable, mind you, but clearly the fruit had escaped long ago. Quite a shame.
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10/30/2019 - benny wrote: 95 Points
This wine is in a perfect place now.
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10/22/2019 - Euoinos wrote: 93 Points
Perfumed red fruit and barnyard. Red cherries. In a good spot. Wouldn’t cellar this for too long.
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8/25/2019 - curtr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Still has some semi resolved tannins to provide some tension.
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6/30/2019 - rwpalmer wrote:
Possibly very slightly corked. Plenty of colour and weight but lacking fragrance next to the 02 and 03.
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6/2/2019 - spineguy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had at a Bordeaux tasting. Very enjoyable and approachable with time in a decanter. Still many years left. Showed very well! Unsure how long in the decanter as was brought by a guest, perhaps 2 hours. Had alongside an '04 Lafite and an '04 Haut Brion. All were stylistically different (expected). Palmer had the most extraction and great/solid fruit which came through but not overpowering, Haut Brion the multilayered complexity and the expected Graves taste well integrated which made it interesting, and the Lafite had the refinement, finesse, albeit showed the youngest, and seemed to just say a little more.
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4/7/2019 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Few wines at Tequila Revolucion (Tequila Revolucion): This was decanted 2.5 hours before serving. Aromas of earth, blackberry, currant, black cherry and hint of smoke. Flavors of iron, earth, blackberry, currant and smoke. Ends with long iron and smoke driven finish of 30+ seconds. I liked this more than some of the other people. They complained it had no structure but I did not share that compliant. I will say that this still needs more time to come together in my opinion. A very solid wine from a less renown vintage.
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3/31/2019 - Niagara wrote: 93 Points
at the risk of a flogging by (fellow) Bdx lovers ... we had this with grilled hotdogs and baked beans, and it was spectacular. The wine has a bit of a smoky note that complemented the grill flavor. I imagine it would be nice with just about anything grilled, but probably not big enough or fat enough for steak.
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3/15/2019 - Orso58 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Looks quite undeveloped, deep red
Nice perfumed nose, red fruit with licorice/ anis tones. Definitely giving away its Margaux appellation origin
Smooth and good tannins, nice fruits in the palate, hits in front and stays alle the way back in a long finish
Very good sample of this to me underrated vintage, Palmer is usually a standout in the vintages, which certainly is the case with this bottle
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12/25/2018 - jvphoto Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark crimson color, very little separation on the rim. Decanted (a bit of sediment) and let it evolve over 1-1.5 hours. Opened up with more floral notes that lay over a rich soil, tobacco and dark red fruit. Forrest berries, charred lead, bitter chocolate, mint and a well balanced finish with tanins that slightly linger.
Drank with Christmas rosemary/pepper crust prime rib.
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11/25/2018 - quagland wrote:
Drank at Coquine. Absolutely gorgeous. Feminine, flowers, pretty, all the things to expect from Margaux. Decanted.
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11/21/2018 - kingofwine Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tasted at the Port with Palmer CEO Thomas Duroux.
A real stunner 14 yrs young. So much finesse and power on this one, swaying back and forth between floral notes and forest floor. The tannins were remarkably present but not surprising given the vintage and confirmation of vineyard conditions and production controls in the winery.
Sampled against the 2008, very similar but later was slightly softer and less tannic.
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11/3/2018 - curtr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours, another very good showing. There is still potential for more evolution. Though remaining tannins do not disturb the experience.
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10/4/2018 - Mr T wrote:
Pretty wine that drinks young but already12+ years in bottle. Color still dark and limited aromatics. Ripe fruit and modest tannin. Very pretty.
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9/7/2018 - drbirdie Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had with Lamb tagging and rotisserie chicken. Studinski's for dinner opening and decanted. Tight at first but opened up to subtle old world style
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8/19/2018 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for an hour, medium red, beautiful refined nose of cassis, leather, red cherries, flowers, silky tannins, classy, elegant but just doesn’t have that extra gear like in good Palmer vintages, in its drinking window
93
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1/20/2018 - galewskj wrote: 94 Points
Blind "20 Questions" wine Dinner (Jason and Mariellen's): Decanted 2 hours. Drank blind, I was surprised that this is so young.
It tastes like a well-aged Bordeaux. Lovely sweet red fruit. The palate is a bit thin. There is funk.
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1/17/2018 - For the Love of Wine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank with a 2 hour decant. Blind tasting, but was my wine, so I knew what it was. Group guessed the wine within the 20 questions allowed. I think 2004 was an under-rated vintage, and I will continue to seek out gems from that vintage, including this wine.
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. It smells like
classic Palmer, with Margaux perfume, violet and verbena. It tastes like cassis, forest floor, sandalwood, lead pencil, violet, lavender, plum, cherry and fig. The body is medium. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity. I believe this wine is it's drinking window right now, and will likely remain there for a few more years.
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1/17/2018 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Drinking Blind at Jason's (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for 2 hours; drank 1+ glass blind over 90 minutes. Picked this as left bank Bordeaux and 2004. Really pretty on the nose with classic Margaux character and a very balanced and poised style. No surprise this turned out to Palmer in the end. Plenty of funk and saddle leather, dark berry fruits, lovely cassis, subtle florals that expand in the glass, earthy, graphite, and a balsamic top note. The palate is medium full bodied, a mix of sweet and tart berries bouncing back and forth over time, floral, lots of minerality, and soft tannins. Like so many of the '04's drinking very well. My number 3 WOTN.
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12/13/2017 - Hazeo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Concur with many other tasters. It is quite open at this point, and is a fine example of a floral suave Margaux, with elegant red fruits, forest floor and supple tannins on the palette.
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12/10/2017 - canefan Likes this wine: 99 Points
Almost perfect.
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12/6/2017 - vinhslee wrote: 96 Points
Drinking quite well when PnP. Gets even better after some aeration.
Very deep and fresh (but not intense or perfumey) floral notes. It feels like taking a stroll in a florist shop. Very deep and multi-layered flavours of cassis, violet, lavender, followed by a hint of cedar, tobacco, plum, vanilla. Very smooth but omnipresent tannins. Finish is long with slightly sweet undertone.
This is a very fine expression of floral Marguax.
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12/2/2017 - erictayl wrote: 94 Points
This 2004 Château Palmer was the wotn last night against a mish-mosh of other reds mostly from CA. I bought it en primeur about 11 yrs ago for $90. Retails about $300 now. Opened it in the morning and let it slow ox, then fully decanted about 2 hrs before drinking. Should have decanted in the morning because it continued to evolve considerably throughout the meal. Initially typical Bordeaux characteristics. After about 4 hours, it reached a stage where it smelled as if I just walked in a flower shop. It was truly spectacular.
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10/27/2017 - jmoon Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking extremely well after 2hour decant
Wonderfully balanced and open, deep dark fruit, elegant and delicious
A bit uptight on opening so needs plenty of air
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9/29/2017 - Quicksand1975 Likes this wine: 95 Points
The bottle was tasted during Margaux wine tasting and was opened three hours in advance. The bouquet is complex and deep with aromas of black currant, dark plums, milk chocolate, vanilla, nutmeg, and hazelnuts. It's full bodied with high acidity and intensive but soft and velveted tannins. Intensive on the palate with long finish. Fantastic!
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7/18/2017 - djhammond Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still on the youthful side, the wine is starting to drink after a few hours in the decanter and is very enjoyable. There is a deep floral nose along with blackcurrent and liquorice with subtle hints of raspberry. On the palate the fruit is balanced by robust tannins with tremendous depth, ending with a lengthy finish. This really does need to evolve further and for time to soften the tannin, and I would leave it for another year or two to allow the true greatness of the wine to shine through. It continued to develop in the glass giving a glimpse of its potential and I would look to be scoring this wine in the high 90's when it gets there.
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5/5/2017 - amateur62 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Still more fruit than tertiary notes, concentrated and dense, though very elegant. Has the acidity of 2002, the tannin of 2004 and the concentration of 2003, very long finish, great. Needs to be decanted. Beginning trinking window, will last forever. 95-98.
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3/7/2017 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still dark, very floral - perfumed & seductive, beautifully balanced, soft and feminine, drinking well now, classy, in a lovely place now
94
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1/10/2017 - burlingtonm Likes this wine: 93 Points
The most forthcoming in a vertical of Palmer from 2004-2009 (not 05), this had started to shed its tannins and was the most open of the wines.
A little va on nose, lead pencils, leather, classic claret and really most enjoyable partnered with venison
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1/8/2017 - DrZett wrote: 91 Points
Great body and structure, in a nice drinking window right now.
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12/6/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Much more classic and more mineral characters and freshness I am being told and I would perfectly agree with that. 2005 will take a much longer time before it shows the identity of the estate where here it shows the estate now. And very soft and supple on the palate. Herb notes in the best possible way. Quite refined. Great sense of balanced and quite refined. As the wine ages the finish becomes more pronounced I am being told and yep, that is there.
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11/24/2016 - Rob MacKay wrote: 93 Points
Excellent wine. Wonderful nose showing some floral elements mixed with a nice mushroomy earthiness. Good fruit on the palate with a fairly lengthy finish. As with a lot of 04's I've had recently, these seem to be drinking well right now.
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11/1/2016 - The Vines That Bind wrote:
Château Palmer Vertical: Very pretty and elegant nose, actually superior to the '05. Ripe red and blueberry fruit. A little candied on the nose. Still young on the palate but more approachable and giving than the '05. Good balance and flavorful finish here.
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10/29/2016 - jcgarcia Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fabulous perfume. Black fruit. A little menthol. Love this
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10/20/2016 - curtr Likes this wine: 92 Points
A 2004 dinner in Memphis. Starting to approach the middle of the drinking window. Was my #2 of the 20 wines served. Nice depth & opening up. Will be fun to follow over the next 10 years.
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9/2/2016 - wineordeath Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely, rich cabernet. Casis, menthol some pencil. Still very young with slightly rough tannins. Slightly short. But good solid bordeaux.
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7/7/2016 - dchain wrote: 90 Points
Clear ruby. Lovely creamy Margaux perfume of cassis, plum and white flowers but with a noticable oaky and cedary and grassy undertone. Medium bodied but still quite tight and austere and I am worried that there is not enough fruit and structure to absorb the wood. Good attack and freshness but the finish is a bit hard and unforgiving with noticable dryness and courseness of the tannins and wood.
I know many of the comments say that this will eventually come around but it is quite hard work on its own and certainly better with food but I am not convinced at the current $150/bt auction price that this is represents good quality to price ratio. Bottle supplied directly from the chateau from a dinner two years ago.
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7/2/2016 - drjb Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark crimson color, quite dense. Beautiful nose on opening of creme de cassis, violet, dark chocolate and cedar. Palate initially quite round and rich with intense fruit but closed down in the glass somewhat. Great density and finish despite just a touch of austerity at the end. A wine with plenty more to show. A lovely 2004.
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6/29/2016 - salil wrote: 92 Points
Painfully tannic and youthful at first, almost like drinking a barrel sample. A decant softens it up a bit, and with some more air it starts to show those dark fruited, cedary, and more flamboyant spicy/floral notes I expect from Palmer. As young as it is, there's impressive depth here and impeccable balance - I imagine this is going to be fantastic when it's eventually mature, though with the structure I imagine that'll be quite some time.
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6/29/2016 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 91 Points
On open, this was insanely tight, showing little but very tannic green walnut. With time, the tannin were still ever-present, but a complex nose of dried flowers, smoke, and dark fruit emerged. On the palate, quite backward, with plentiful tannin and medium acid; silky. Still painfully young, but with lots of promise.
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6/20/2016 - dglebo Likes this wine: 95 Points
Revisiting an old friend. All but fully mature. Garnet red. Strawberries still in the nose with hints of balsamic. Bordeaux tends to have velvet notes on the swallow as tannins blend and mature and this wine is typical there. Rich with some lingering tannic puckers and strawberry silk. Long balanced finish.
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6/11/2016 - steinersing wrote: 91 Points
quite nice, but not singing currently
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6/5/2016 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Really nice change of pace. Limited notes. Rustic, textbook Bordeaux.
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6/5/2016 - WineBum wrote: 92 Points
Tasted in the heat and dust at Bedrock vineyard. Elegant, didn't take formal notes.
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6/2/2016 - rossi.wine wrote: 91 Points
A bit more open than the 2006, lots of structure and much less silky and generous than I remember it to be. Very earthy. Even a little lean at times with drying tannins towards the long finish. 90-92
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4/10/2016 - whitmanlholt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured from split. This is a medium red wine with some minor sediment at the end of the bottle. The nose carries some nice forest floor and cherry, bridging into a mouth that is lively yet poised and a crisp finish. Unfortunately, I think this may have had some minor TCA/cork taint as there was a slight overhang of funk or wet cardboard that wouldn’t go away. This was a minor complaint about an otherwise classic and nice bottle of Bordeaux, but I am still asterisking the score. 92*
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3/28/2016 - melzar wrote: 90 Points
Black olives and oak on the nose. Palate dominated by tannin, not letting the fruit come out. Hot finish. Suspect bottle age will result in some improvement, but will never be a great Palmer like '70, '83, and '89.
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3/13/2016 - Winemaker51 Likes this wine: 91 Points
A drinkable, elegant style of left bank Bordeaux. Bought it, based on a great RP score. Like a lot of 2004's, bit diluted and slightly green finish. I would start drinking this wine. I noticed considerable Brettanomyces, and it appears to be unfiltered. Yet, there was nice mint and savory aromatics. Did not think decanting was of great benefit for greater than 1 hour. Drink now
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12/29/2015 - jamie24 Likes this wine: 94 Points
From magnum on Christmas Day. Best showing so far for this wine. In a great place right now. The 04 Bordeauxs are turning into a decent drinking vintage.
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6/18/2015 - "Rhône Rider" Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mulig ukurrant flaske med litt mye brett.
Solbær, lær, lirt stall. Frisk, balansert, konsentrert og lang.
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5/23/2015 - steinersing wrote: 91 Points
at this stage pleasant but not impressive. not the velvety, elegant character that I like in Palmer's better vintages
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4/26/2015 - md20 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bei Christian an Omas 98 Geburtstag! Schöner Margauxduft. Mittlerer Körper. Anfangs noch feiner Wein mit vorhandenen Tanninen. Mit Luft und Zeit wurde aus diesem Margaux eine richtige, klassische Schönheit! Am Anfang einer längeren Genussphase. Der Wein widerspiegelt die Herkunft und den Jahrgang auf äusserst authentische weise! 94+/100
In Christian home at Grandma's 98 birthday! Beautiful Margauxnose. Medium body. Initially fine wine with tannins present. With air and time was got this Margaux a real classic beauty! At the beginning of a longer phase of enjoyment. The wine reflects the origin and vintage on extremely authentic example! 94+/100
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4/20/2015 - Atreyu wrote:
deilig myk og moden frukt. Fløyel. Crowdpleaser - litt endimensjonal.
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4/7/2015 - Fid Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank from split with family at a belated Passover Seder. Very nice nose, very flowery and Margaux-like. Very elegant palate, with berry and tobacco dominating. Good 30 second finish. Really enjoyed.
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2/18/2015 - Andre Brattland wrote: 92 Points
The wine was some shy after opening of the bottle. I was unsure for a second if it was anything wrong, but the wine opend up after some aeration. Aromas of vanilla, blackcurrant and violet. On taste, I think it was fairly "green." Some ackward really. Otherwise taste of black currant, licorice, smoke, and tofee. Relatively integrated oak. You can fine drink the wine now.
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2/5/2015 - RockinCabs wrote: 94 Points
Nose: Gorgeous florals, cherry, blackberry, slate in a beautiful perfume. Palate: So lush and elegant. Deep black raspberry, cherry and currant fruit. Polished notes of flowers, spices, coffee, and a distinct charcuterie element. Finish: Long and polished with a beautiful fruit, mineral and sweet oak influence.
This is awesome now, but will improve over the next decade. Could end up in the 96+ range for me down the road.
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2/4/2015 - nortonnose wrote: 94 Points
I was just overcoming a cold, thus I leaned on my drinking mates for formal tasting and rating. We enjoyed this side by side with 88 Lafite - good work if you can get it, eh lads?! This was so sexy, curvy and almost savagely raw and fun. NSFW commentary hereby withheld. Could not be more excited to taste its development regularly over the coming decades. Thanks for sharing, Phil!
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2/4/2015 - englishman's claret wrote: 93 Points
Thanks to Phil for sharing this - at first, this was dense and primary but with a few hours of air, this picked up beautiful floral notes - reminding you that it's Palmer and delivering what it ought to. Will this evolve into what the 89 is now? Wait and see...
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1/22/2015 - Romol Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 2+ hours. Very elegant Bordeaux. Nice nose and wonderful, intense palate. Has still along life ahead, but already a pleasure.
93+ pts.
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1/4/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
Floral, sweet cherries, truffle, cocoa, licorice and black raspberries open the complex aromatics. Pure silk and velvet in textures, this wine serves up a soft, sexy delicious, spicy dark red berries, plums and tapenade. Drink now, or age it for more complexity. This is one of the top wines of the vintage and marks the debut of Thomas Duroux at the estate.
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12/5/2014 - dglebo wrote: 95 Points
A young Palmer. Garnet red. Nose with hints of strawberry licorice and slate. Great balance, still tannic and likely better in 2-4 years but very approachable (2 hours of decanting this evening). Long finish...and strawberry is the right descriptor.
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11/9/2014 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 92 Points
2004 Palmer
Color: medium red
Nose: not powerful, pretty nose of red fruits and Asian spices, espresso
Palate: perfectly balanced, showing its pedigree, already showing some secondary nuances, at 10 yrs old it's approachable but with a good curve ahead but doubt be a long lasting palmer
Rated: 92+
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10/31/2014 - King JR wrote: 94 Points
Very smooth. A touch of barnyard funk, that blew over. Definitely enjoyable now and probably for many years to come
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8/11/2014 - jamie24 wrote: 92 Points
From magnum. 2 hour decant. Was still a little reticent at first (will decant longer next time) but after some time in the glass it opened up beautifully. Ripe fruit. In it's window but will probably improve.
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5/24/2014 - Papies wrote: 93 Points
Annual Pilgrimage to Chateau Lanessan; 5/23/2014-5/25/2014 (Chateau Lanessan, Bordeaux): Tasted at Chateau Palmer. Freshly opened bottle.
Even with no decanting this young wine exhibits its class early on. Dark fruits on the nose, very distinct blueberry feel, light cherry and that oh so Palmer herby,minty nose. On the palate the tannins are very much there, not a wall of tannin, but still very firm. Good structure and this needs another 5yrs minimum and has the capacity to go for long time. 93 now but with a lot way up if it follows the path it promises now
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5/10/2014 - Seafoam Manor Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still young, but was drinking quite well after about an hour in a decanter. Classic Palmer nose that hits you as soon as the bottle was opened and could be smelled from the far side of the table. Clear deep ruby color to the edge. Bright red fruits and strong spice notes which were supported but leather and tobacco flavors. Given the vintage, this is a real success. This isn't the best Palmer I've ever had, but considering that this was the last affordable year, I wish I had a lot more. Unfortunately, the secondary market has caught up with the new prices.
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3/22/2014 - melzar wrote: 91 Points
Tight and tannic upon opening, but with a forthcoming gorgeous nose. Ripe fruit appears after an hour or so in the glass , and a well balanced palate emerges. Good acidity and a lingering if somewhat hot finish. Much more evolved and better on day two. Suggest a two hour decant, or wait a few years. Long life ahead.
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3/14/2014 - capacious Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had this after a 2004 chateau Margaux which we decanted so not truly fair. Needed the airtime. It was tight, closed off for the first hour. Shows enormous potential.
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3/10/2014 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 94 Points
2004 Bordeaux ... 10 years on (Bordeaux Index London): Another dimension here, broader and richer yet retains a certain classicism. What a lovely wine! Still rather primary. I would bet that this bottle needs easily about 10 years to start its proper drinking window. While Palmer is better than Rauzan Segla, but not by too much, Château Margaux outduels Palmer with its superior finesse in 2004.
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3/6/2014 - Jimywags wrote: 93 Points
I'm fairly certain this was decanted for a full day (my friend is the decant master!). I was geeked to drink this wine as the 04 bordeaux vintage is my vintage of the century -- not only the last affordable vintage but damn good wines, too. A little more advanced in color than I was expecting but no fatigue on the nose. Really distinct no. 2 pencil. Totally reminded me of a freshly sharpened striped NFL pencil circa 1976 that my mom would buy me from the school office. Loved those pencils. Medium to full-bodied palate with cassis, licorice, cherry, very well integrated tannins, and even a nice hit of acidity on the finish. Gorgeous bottle of 10 year old bordeaux. 93 pts.
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2/11/2014 - Dale M wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 4 hrs. recorked lightly, served 5 hrs. later. The nose announces itself right out of the decanter, brilliant and very classic aromas of ripe cassis, cedar, and a little bit of lead pencil and damp earth. It’s scary to think how good this nose will be in a decade or so. Darker in color than I expected, and while the wine is certainly accessible if not flat out enjoyable, it’s not over done either. By far, the richest 04 left bank Bordeaux I have had, but again, pulls it off with a certain elegance that is hard to articulate. The back half displayed a sneaky tannic structure that struck like a tiger in the tall grass, but proportionate to the rich fruit, suggesting many years of good drinking lie ahead. My 93 score is very conservative, this was a great wine, I just wanted to give myself flexibility to add 2 to 3 points when this baby matures.
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2/10/2014 - TightLettuce Likes this wine: 97 Points
Same as last time - Drank really well after about 2 hours of decant.
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1/26/2014 - HofstraJet wrote: 93 Points
Only had a 1 hour decant, which was insufficient. Much better towards end of bottle, so a 2 hour decant next time.
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1/18/2014 - TightLettuce Likes this wine: 95 Points
Sensational wine. Extremely powerful nose of violets, sweet blackberry, truffles and licorice. Subtle tannins, medium body, and a light amount of acidity balances the wine nicely. One of the best bottles I have sampled in recent memory, just a stunning wine
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1/5/2014 - barryjkeller@gmail.com wrote:
Did not show well. Not sure if didn't leave it open long enough or whether needed more time in decanter. Loved the previous bottle. Probably decanted for 4 hours then back into bottle.
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12/10/2013 - capacious Likes this wine: 93 Points
Consistently a very good wine and drinking well now and showing lots of promise. Bought a lot of 2004 luckily figuring it was inexpensive year to buy good Bordeaux. Sometimes in a so so year that works and for us in 2004 it has. These have become our go to while we wait for 96 and others to come around.
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9/29/2013 - PC73 wrote: 90 Points
Very dar, deep red in colour. Freshness on the nose with a hint of smoke. Blackcurrant on the palate. Complex, with a long finish. Tannins lurking in the background, but in a good way. Overall, this is a big powerful wine.
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9/27/2013 - Wine_lvr wrote: 91 Points
Palmer Vertical Tasting (1982 - 2004) (Switzerland): Tasted blind: Nose of coffee, tar and dark gravy. The wine has power, it is long but at the same time dominated by dry tannins. There is plenty of sweetness (dark fruit), Mocca and plum flavor. Overall a bit one-dimensional. Good to drink now but I see more potential in a few years down the road.
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9/21/2013 - barryjkeller@gmail.com Likes this wine:
Not sure but this could have been on the edge of being corked however the scent dissipated somewhat after 4 hours. So decanted for 2 hours and drank over following 2 hours which worked well. Nose was black current, palate was black current, black raspberry and coffee. Quite understated from a complexity perspective, however really well integrated and balanced with wonderful fine tannins. Drinking beautifully now but has much life left. Would be good to give another 5 years to see how it goes. Texture had a wonderful silken quality and overall a beautiful elegant wine. Much enjoyed.
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9/17/2013 - capacious Likes this wine: 90 Points
The equal balance of merlot and cab works beautifully in this now drinking very well 2004. Years and years left.
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7/28/2013 - OW_SOSPEL Likes this wine: 96 Points
Rubis profond, ocelle carmin. Très extrait. Très mobile. Jambes fines très nombreuses.
Boisé puissant mais délicat. Nez de cerises et de fraises, de gingembre et de cacao. Fond de violettes. Très complexe.
Monstrueux ! Attaque très souple et ronde. Des fruits rouges frais noyés dans un fond d'épices et de cacao. Beaucoup de matière. Arrière goût de bois brûlé.
Tanins gourmands doux et intégrés. Attaque d'une souplesse incroyable. Une montagne d'équilibre. Intégration parfaite bois et fruits. Finesse, délicatesse et complexité.
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7/8/2013 - Porchino wrote: 93 Points
Much better than96 pontet but worth the big bucks? Had at pieros in Vegas with very mediocre at best steak
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6/23/2013 - johnh1001 wrote: 91 Points
At the chateau. Very bloody and meaty nose. Minerals, dark fruit and tobacco. Stemmy nose? Smoke and minerals. Great silky texture and medium+ finish.
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6/22/2013 - VoteferPedro wrote: 93 Points
Lovely complete bordeaux with aromatics that soared from the decanter (1 hour oaf air). There was a corn hhusky earthy smell I associate with bordeaux merlot and cedar and other floral elements. The color was a warm ruby with clear rim and the wine was deliscious on the palate.93-94
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6/11/2013 - rossi.wine wrote: 95 Points
Delicate nose, perfumed with secondary flavours slowly evolving, very elegant. On the palate, great grip and freshness, tannins still very present but round and sweet and just a touch drying. Everything is in the right place here, very good balance, silky, long, with a good future. An outstanding wine.
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6/11/2013 - jmoon wrote: 94 Points
Delicious. Took an hour to open up but was ripe, delicious, balanced. Pencil, black currant, vanilla, cedar. Quite ripe for 04. Grippy but not unpleasantly so. Knew you were alive.
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6/2/2013 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful rich nose with earthy flavors and smooth tannins. Drinking well now and unlikely to improve. Very nice.
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5/31/2013 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
Bordeaux 2004 (@ Bottles; Sas van Gent, Netherlands): Beautiful bouquet with cassis and other dark forest fruits, cedar, luxurious oak and chocolate. On the palate a slightly sweet start with dark fruits, beautiful smoky oak, high concentration and just a little bell pepper. The tannin is still very youthful. This is a luxurious and classical wine, already showing what it has in store, and from 2018 onwards this will be great. 94+
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5/31/2013 - jkoenen wrote: 94 Points
Bordeaux 2004 - an overview (Restaurant Bottles, Sas van Gent): Wow! This is really full of elegance, yet strong and muscular like a noble steed. Excellent balance between crunchy fruit and rustic odours. It's fresh, bright and typical. This wine made me smile. Yeah man! 18.5/20 (group scores 92-96)
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5/8/2013 - obmoen wrote: 89 Points
Solbær, mokka, eik og frukt på nesa. Noe alkostikk. Grov tanninstruktur, rik munn, litt urter. God lengde. Framstår ganske saftig men likevel skuffende. Må få mange år.
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5/7/2013 - -E- wrote: 92 Points
Ch. Palmer vertikal (Oslo): Klar, mørk rød med snev av blått. Pur ung, primær nese med knuste, mørksvarte bær, lakris og pepper. Stram og strukturert, tørr frukt med flott fruktsødme. Plush stuktur med fin intensitet, frisk og saftig syre. Lett grove tanniner. Fin, krydret lenge. La ligge. 92+ P
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5/7/2013 - LWI wrote: 91 Points
Palmer vertical: CS dominated nose with black currants; disjointed in the mouth: lots of acidity and tannins – but the fruit is warm, not very complex, and oaky. May integrate, but I am not entirely convinced.
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4/6/2013 - Cheungtp Likes this wine: 95 Points
A mini Palmer vertical: Opaque, purple color gem. Mesmerizing nose of floral, potpourri, violet, blackberry, cloves, wet earth, cherry liqueur, vanilla, dried leather and a hint of mint. This wine is rich both in aromas and texture, when it hits your palate, there are black fruits, truffle, dark chocolate, tobacco and tea leaf. Round, velvety, lush, prominent yet chewy tannins. Wonderful structure with just right level of acidity to keep it all fresh and balanced. Long finish with dark cocoa, espresso, tobacco and smoke. This wine can age and will certainly turn out great down the road!
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3/27/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
The debut vintage of Palmer for Thomas Duroux is filled with earth, forest floor, blackberry, truffle, tobacco, floral and spice aromas. Full bodied and displaying luscious, ripe, sweet, spicy black cherry flavors, this is supple, round and velvety in texture. You can drink this now, or wait a decade, when it will be more complex.
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12/25/2012 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank from magnum after 3 hour slow ox. Just a truly remarkable wine with perfect balance and great depth of fruit. A nice softness and complete experience in this under rated vintage. Great for short term drinking.
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11/17/2012 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep ruby/purple color with an alluring nose dark berries, sandalwood, leather, and smoke. The palate is rich, structured, and multi-layered with flavors black cherries, currant, dried plum, smoke, bay leaf, espresso, lead pencil shavings, and rich Margaux earth. Finishes long, fresh and velvety. Just outstanding. Drink now until 2024.
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9/24/2012 - Nutty08 wrote: 93 Points
Great to be able to try this just 18mos after a first bottle. Strikingly different style than the other bdx, more concentrated, and fruit forward. Splash decanted. Great fruit forward nose of cassis and black currants and still with a touch of unintegrated vanilla/oak. Great dark fruit on the palate, quite lush. Big chewy tannins in the background that really carry through on a long berry filled finish. Concentrated and ripe, though balanced and polished. Seems to show a softer, merlot dominated character. This should have a long life ahead. 92-93
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9/21/2012 - macker100 wrote: 93 Points
Similar to 2011 note. Great black fruited and spice nose. Very concentrated fruit with smooth tannins. Better on day 2. Long life ahead.
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4/28/2012 - danielk168 wrote: 91 Points
Took about 2 hours in the decanter to deliver, good floral nose, with complex aromas on fruit and minerals. Tannins not fully integrated but does not lessen the drinking pleasure. Still young of course but drinkable if decanted long enough.
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3/14/2012 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
Really glad I got the chance to taste this as I have a bottle of my own in the cellar.
A little less of everything than I had expected from this chateau. Dry leather saddle, withered black cherry and dirt road. Lots of earth. A lead pencil and rusty nail quality as well. Much more rustic red fruit than plums and purple qualities I've tasted from Palmer in the past. I wonder if this will improve much with time.
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1/2/2012 - winecowboy wrote: 91 Points
Deep purple. Concentrated plums and cassis with hints of earthiness. Compact and elegant.
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1/1/2012 - Tag01 wrote: 93 Points
Double decanted for 3 hours
New Years Day wine. Served with prime rib and butternut squash soup.
Colour: Some sediment in the bottle. Dark ruby red but not inky purple. Looks massive.
Nose:
Taste:
THis was a really memorable wine. The wine was powerful yet not at all overwhelming in all aspects. Tannins were there yet well integrated into the wine. In a word this wine was balanced in all areas. I really enjoyed this wine throughout the measl and afterwards...great experience.
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10/23/2011 - psmith wrote:
Palmer Vertical (Boka): Dense, dark, tannic wine. Uncharacteristically bold and grainy for Palmer. Very young.
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10/23/2011 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Chateau Palmer Dinner (Boka - Chicago IL): Floral and quite alluring even in its youth. Very fruit driven with a few nice licorice and herb hints in the background. Drinking well already, very easy to enjoy.
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5/23/2011 - mike410 wrote: 88 Points
Tasted at the WS Grand Tour in Boston. I wasn't at all impressed with this wine. If I didn't know better it seemed like it was past it's prime. DRINK NOW.
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5/19/2011 - socidelvino wrote: 87 Points
Wine Spectator Grand Tour Boston 2011
Eye: deep purple color. Nose: barnyard, red berries, smoke, leather, cherry, spice. Palate: leather, berries, lighter than expected, moderate finish, herbal. A bit underwhelming...
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5/19/2011 - wino_tim wrote: 92 Points
Dark, savory and ripe with big black fruit, tobacco, and mossy earth flavors, medium+ to full body, and fine tannins.
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5/19/2011 - stephanm wrote: 91 Points
Sophistication and finess after the Alter Egos. Tannins are softer and more seductive, smell and taste of wood but not in an over-powering way. Depth and complexity, more fruit, tobacco, sweaty leather. Long finish.
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5/19/2011 - RockinCabs wrote: 91 Points
WS Grand Tour Boston (Copley Marriott): Nose: barnyard, horse hair, red currents, cherry jam, and slight coconut notes. Perfumed nose shows some florals and spice as well. Palate: hits on the thin side, a very feminine wine. Red fruit, leather and sweet berry notes dominate. Finish: moderate, begins to show some herb notes late.
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5/15/2011 - vegasoenophile wrote: 95 Points
Wonderfully rich, opulent red and black fruit. Delicious, layered and terrific structure.
- WS Grand Tour 2011
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5/6/2011 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
2011 Simple Series 6: WOTN (Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck @ Paragon): Alcohol :: 13%
Served right after the L’evangile, this showed very good liveliness with its fresh aromas of vanilla, tobacco leaves, cigar box, and pure cassis fruits that continue to pamper the palate with its finely texture, sweet pure cassis fruits and polished tannin. The finish is complex, sappy with good freshness, harmony and tension. Everything is so tightly coiled, but, with finesse and I could see its bright future. Excellent wine. Buy - Maybe - Yes.
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5/6/2011 - Paul S wrote: 91 Points
2011 Simple Series VI: Dave's Birthday (Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck, Paragon): Pretty good, but boy this was modernly styled. Ripe plums and cassis scents on the nose were accompanied by a hint of earth and a dose of sweet oak hints of oak. There was a nice gummy quality to the cassis and plum fruit on the nose, with a nice ring of purity, but the wine seemed more about heft, depth and weight than elegance at this point. Balance was okay barring some heat towards the end, but this does need time to unfold. Right at the finish, there were some drying, slightly powdery tannins along with very modern sweet vanilla and mocha notes. Good but not great at the moment - this would be interesting to revisit in 10 years' time.
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4/30/2011 - EyeDoc wrote: 90 Points
This wine shows margaux typicity with its elegant profile - moderate structure - smooth tannins. The finish is a bit short even for this style of wine. An easy drink now. This is not one for the ages but certainly can be enjoyed over the next decade.
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3/4/2011 - rc@ughey wrote: 93 Points
This shows deep and intense red and black fruits, but it isn't in any way over the top. Indeed, it's very well balanced. Young but drinking nicely now, and beautifully textured despite still-strong tannins.
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2/22/2011 - Biggsy wrote: 89 Points
Ruby red with a hint of garnet. Cigar smoke aromas with a gentle hint of oak. Fresh and silky smooth with great balance and a lovely earthy, hedgerow flavour. A touch light in the middle which stops this from being very good.
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2/16/2011 - henrygjeffreys wrote:
lovely silky texture, almost Burgundian
chocolate and coffee. t. sweetness
great fragrance and acidity
beautiful
two ticks
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1/8/2011 - macker100 wrote: 93 Points
Margaux Horizontal 2004 (Toast Bistro, San Antonio): A stunning Palmer which I ranked #2. I had this easily marked as Margaux with nose of crushed rocks, violets, and graphite. Very juicy and sweet, but balanced with notes of dark berries, mocha, minerals, vanilla. A touch of oak was noticeable on mouthpuckering finish. Impressive density of the fruit. I marked this as most tannic of my top three.
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1/8/2011 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
2004 Margaux horizontal (Toast Bistro, San Antonio, TX): Cherry and licorice nose, rather concentrated and fragrant. Distinctly darker fruit profile than the other margaux, but with some cherry , blackberry, and lavender poking through. Still Margaux but by far the most concentrated fruit. Long complex finish where the oak influence really comes forward, with cedary overtones. Non-blind tasting later, more floral on the nose, with slightly candied fruit on the palate, and coarse prominent tannins that come out with air. 91 initially though bumped to 92 after spending more time with it. Noticeable that this has the highest level of merlot in this tasting with the darker fruit profile. This should unwind and improve with time.
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10/17/2010 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
2004 Palmer will drink well young for Chateau Palmer. This is good for consumers not willing to wait as Palmer usually takes at least 10-20 years before it matures. Filled with cassis, blackberry, spice, earth and floral aromas, this full bodied, silky wine is elegant and rich. The long pure, fresh finish feels like velvet in your mouth. This was a bottle popped and poured. A few more years will make this wine even better, This is the Palmer to buy in today's marketplace for price and quality.
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9/8/2010 - winesteward wrote: 87 Points
Left in decanter for close to 2 hours before putting it back in the bottle for transport to the restaurant. Served blind, immediately nearly everyone picked it as the Bordeaux in the lineup. Dry, rich, good fruit but still tight. An hour later some chocolate notes. After 2 hours in the glass the wine turned meaty with the tannins really picking up. By the way this developed even after so many hours exposed to air, it seems this needs a very long time in the bottle before it becomes approachable. Not too interesting at this point. Leave alone for at least another 5 years.
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7/2/2010 - Tavastgatan wrote: 94 Points
Strong effort for the vintage. Silky sexy fruit surrounded by barnyard. Wish I had a case.
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5/21/2010 - Jozefs wrote: 95 Points
Consistent notes. This accessible now with plenty of breathing, but will improve for many years to come.
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3/15/2010 - kyliep71 wrote: 91 Points
beautiful wine, still slightly tanic but a silky texture, tiny bursts of fruit, should be very nice in a few years.
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1/20/2010 - iobtoel wrote:
CUWS Palmer Vertical: Closed at the moment. Blackcurrent nose. Palate shut down, but the intensity! Fresh, nicely balanced, silky tannins.
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1/15/2010 - dcwino wrote: 92 Points
Chateau Palmer Vertical with Thomas Duroux (La Plume, Jefferson Hotel, Washington DC): Pure fruit, fresh, drinking very well.
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1/14/2010 - Faryan wrote: 93 Points
Palmer Vertical with Thomas Duroux (La Plume, Jefferson Hotel, Washington DC): A wonderful comparison having just had the 04 Alter Ego. They sit next to each other like brothers of different stature. The Palmer has better breed and focus; it is tailored iwth more precision. An alacrity and clearer pitch on the fruit and more perfume on the nose. It is more expansive and brooding, but still has the same tobaccoy quality as the Alter Ego. Hallmark tones of kirsch and violets with excellent balance. The wine is soft with a supple round mouth feel but with enough integrity to age gracefully. A wine that has a bright future.
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7/10/2009 - Jozefs wrote: 95 Points
While very young, with sufficient air this is already very good, especially on the nose. I could smell this wine all day long. Just more class than the also very good Malescot St. Ex.
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3/21/2009 - Alex H wrote: 83 Points
Thematic tasting of Bordeaux 2004 (Crystal Wines): Flower scented smoked meats, brambly cherries. Good feeling of quiet strength but needs more structure. Finishes on dried herbs and nutmeg. Really underwhelming for the price. Reasonably masculine but a boorish guy rather than the princely status given to its name. Meh!
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9/22/2008 - Claudio161 wrote: 93 Points
2004 - The Last Affordable Vintage? (Sweets and Savories. Fullerton near Ashland. Chicago. IL): Sight: Lighter in color than the other 2004 bordeaux's this evening. Medium red color. High viscosity.
Nose: Quite floral. Boatload of perfume wisping up and out of the glass. The smell is captivating and incredible.
Taste: In a word - Beauty. Silk, flowers, finesse of a high caste.
Overall: Awesome. 93-94 points. This will climb up the point scale in time (IMO)
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9/22/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
2004 Bordeaux- the last affordable vintage? (Sweets and Savories, chicago IL): nose: beautifully lifting nose of floral tones, small berries, leather, smoke, and sweet red cherries abound. wonderfully pungent and balanced with sheer beauty everywhere
taste: very polished feel, but young at the same time with small berries, all sorts of florals, leather, and sweet red cherries
overall: this was my co-WOTN. Both this and the le gay were on another level(though for some reason the angelus won, even though it didn't win WOTF). A very beautiful Palmer with it's sheer elegance and ingrid bergman-like class and beauty. Silky berry attack that fluidly gives way to a sweet red cherry finish. This wine will certainly reward patience as it will get even more beautiful with time
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8/30/2008 - Roughl wrote: 90 Points
3 excellent 2004 bordeauxs: Mocca, roasted notes, coffee, vanilla, wood. A very full-on style; mixed with blackberry and cassis. I did not get the Margaux floral notes at all. Very well made but lacking balance, elegance and depth to my taste. long finish. If this were a 25 EUR bottle, I'd love it but at +100EUR..., no way. Cos d'estournel and especially la mission haut brion showed a lot better. 89-90 pts
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7/1/2008 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
The first vintage for Thomas Duroux is big, rich and concentrated as was well as opulent. Tannic, but the tannins are elegant and ripe. Filled with ripe dark fruit, smoke, caramel, licorice and truffle, I'd start opening this velvety textured wine in 2015 and enjoy for at least 20 more years after that.
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4/4/2008 - jordanj wrote: 91 Points
Poker Night at my place (My house): Served blind to me, and double blind to the group. Very Dark purple Nose of flowers, toast, meat and leather. Lively and fresh fruit flavors (cherry and blackberry) on the palate. However this felt a little awkward. Maybe it is just because of its age. I thought it was a little disjointed. The finish was short and bitter. This should improve with age.
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3/27/2008 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 88 Points
Château Palmer Vertical (Morton's): Pretty aromatics and gentle, almost silkily pliant red fruit.
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3/27/2008 - MRichman wrote:
Palmer vertical at Morton's, NYC: Clove, sweet spice, a bit flabby with acidic notes. This wine seemed a completely different animal than previous vintages.
B
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3/13/2008 - Kevin_C wrote:
Deep purple-red. Nose of iodine, saline and perfume. Mouth-coating palate that integrates well. Tannins are present but not obstructing from the nice minerally finish.
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2/23/2008 - vintage61 wrote:
I have a feeling that this is an excellent wine that is just not my cup of tea. Beautiful dark purple color and expresive nose for such a young wine. Definitely softer than the northwern medoc and has a flavor profile that left me wondering. Is this what Margeaux is about? More floral?? than fruit??? Had another glass on 2/25/08 and seemed more to my liking. NO score in fairness to the wine.
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2/12/2008 - igaf wrote:
Dark purple, young. Pleasant if a little quiet nose with black berries, non cloying sweetness, moderate oak and developed herbal notes. Medium body, rather soft tannins. The palate seemed a little more oaky than the nose. Black cherry and coffee flavours, very good balancing accidity, interesting, pretty long.
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12/19/2007 - yeoman wrote:
Very very well made Palmer but can wait till 10 years later. It should be a good wine
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10/25/2007 - winefool wrote: 93 Points
WS NYWE Grand Tastings; 10/25/2007-10/26/2007 (Marriott Marquis): Full soft purple color. Bright black fruit nose . Nice rich tight round spicy black fruit on the palate. Again, very young but good potential. 93+? pts.
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10/24/2007 - MRichman wrote:
Bordeaux 2004 horizontal (Frank's Steakhouse, NYC): Lots of stuffing, dense. Good complexity with a very nice warmth to it. Needs time to mature.
B++
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7/6/2007 - win wrote: 93 Points
92-94 Classic Margaux.
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7/1/2007 - Wil wrote: 84 Points
Not offering much on the nose, on the palate rather plain and straightforward; ok finish. Average wine.
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4/27/2007 - Jozefs wrote: 93 Points
Aromatic nose with spices, tobacco and black fruit (plums, dark cherries). Balanced palate with refreshing acidity, elegant tannins, delicious fruit tones, all supported by spices, coffee and tobacco. Very classy wine, at the moment accessible in its youth.
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3/23/2007 - snipes wrote: 93 Points
The first Palmer of the tasting. At this point the '00, '02 and '04 have about 1 hr.'s time in the glass. 2004: All I have written down is nice floral notes, BLUEBERRY and cigar on the palate. I really enjoyed this wine as well as the 04 Alter Ego. One thing that still sticks with me is I wonder how much of this fruity, fresh character is due to it's extremely young age. I wonder in another couple of years if this will still be as enjoyable. I plan to pick some up and track it on the long term. My #2 of the Palmer's and #1 of the first flight.
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