Tempier at Margeaux Brasserie (Chicago, IL): Really I'm not sure what to make of this wine. On one had, there really is some beautiful bordelais aromatics, with some cedar and pencil shavings, some black fruit, and a hint of perfume (which is almost surely the power of seeing the word Palmer on the label). I served this double blind to everyone, and there was (what I thought was) an excellent guess of tannat. Indeed, there is something atypical here in that it's not fully cabernet, but whether I could go so far to say I picked up syrah here, I'm doubtful. It's an odd wine; not bad, and definitely interesting. I have one more bottle that I plan to hold for a while longer to see how this turns out with secondary characteristics.
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Popped and poured. This is a medium-ruby wine with a darker core, undoubtedly reflecting the "Hermitaging." There was almost no sediment in the whole bottle. On the nose, I get some forest floor from the Merlot, black fruits, and cherry -- the nose actually has some shadows of the "regular" Palmer. In the mouth, this is slightly sweet from the Syrah, with solid acid and structure throughout. The finish carries some continuing fruit and mild tannins. Overall, this was a tasty wine. It is not worth the pricing for the somewhat gimmicky 1800s pitch, but was still not bad. There are better Cab-Syrah blends for the money, including from L'Aventure and other in Paso Robles and several Super Tuscan blends. Still, if this really reflects the wine people were drinking from Bordeaux in the 1800s, they were drinking very well indeed. 92 points.
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Chateau Palmer Dinner (La Trompette, Chiswick): Youthful, very ripe, sweet black fruit, touch of black pepper. Full, generous, sweet and youthful on the palate, black pastille fruit. Not sure what to make of this, but much prefer the Grand Vin. **(1/2)
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Ian A's Palmer @ Trompette (La Trompette, London): Quite ripe and full. Neither here nor there really — feels as if it might be less than the sum of its parts. Ripe and a tad sweet, but it pales against the main event.***
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11/20/2018 - THECORKDORK Likes this wine: 96 Points
This wine is incredible. Maybe more Bordeaux should have Syrah in it :)
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5/7/2018 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Tempier at Margeaux Brasserie (Chicago, IL): Really I'm not sure what to make of this wine. On one had, there really is some beautiful bordelais aromatics, with some cedar and pencil shavings, some black fruit, and a hint of perfume (which is almost surely the power of seeing the word Palmer on the label). I served this double blind to everyone, and there was (what I thought was) an excellent guess of tannat. Indeed, there is something atypical here in that it's not fully cabernet, but whether I could go so far to say I picked up syrah here, I'm doubtful. It's an odd wine; not bad, and definitely interesting. I have one more bottle that I plan to hold for a while longer to see how this turns out with secondary characteristics.
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3/12/2017 - whitmanlholt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured. This is a medium-ruby wine with a darker core, undoubtedly reflecting the "Hermitaging." There was almost no sediment in the whole bottle. On the nose, I get some forest floor from the Merlot, black fruits, and cherry -- the nose actually has some shadows of the "regular" Palmer. In the mouth, this is slightly sweet from the Syrah, with solid acid and structure throughout. The finish carries some continuing fruit and mild tannins. Overall, this was a tasty wine. It is not worth the pricing for the somewhat gimmicky 1800s pitch, but was still not bad. There are better Cab-Syrah blends for the money, including from L'Aventure and other in Paso Robles and several Super Tuscan blends. Still, if this really reflects the wine people were drinking from Bordeaux in the 1800s, they were drinking very well indeed. 92 points.
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11/12/2015 - Paul D wrote:
Chateau Palmer Dinner (La Trompette, Chiswick): Youthful, very ripe, sweet black fruit, touch of black pepper. Full, generous, sweet and youthful on the palate, black pastille fruit. Not sure what to make of this, but much prefer the Grand Vin. **(1/2)
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11/12/2015 - SimonG wrote: 88 Points
Ian A's Palmer @ Trompette (La Trompette, London): Quite ripe and full. Neither here nor there really — feels as if it might be less than the sum of its parts. Ripe and a tad sweet, but it pales against the main event.***
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