2nd bottle of 3 in a mixed case of super seconds bought from the Wine Society en primeur and stored in a wine fridge since delivery. Excellent condition. Had the first bottle 7 years ago and it has developed a lot since. Nose has aged with mushrooms, coffee, chocolate, leather and undergrowth at first then becomes cleaner with blackcurrant, plums and violets. Medium weight body a touch light mid palate as you would expect from an average vintage. Loads of silky fine tannins. Finish good but not great. Lovely wine and one of the best of the vintage. 89 is still my favourite. Drink up.
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Opened 2 bottles of the 1998 Ch Palmer today. Wine had been stored "professionally" since delivery to the UK, until 18 months ago and cellared carefully at home. Levels of both bottles were top of the shoulders. The first cork started to disintegrate but I removed it using skewers carefully either side of the cork relatively easily without disturbing the sediment. Wines were carefully decanted using a lit candle vehind the neck of the bottle and noted both the wines had thrown a considerable sediment. Sadly, the first wine smelt foxed, albeit musty and mushroomy, and as though the bottle had not been correctly cleaned. I decanted the contents and let it rest. The second bottle also had a similarly similarly delicate cork but came out intact. The nose was unsurprisingly better, but not rich, colour of the meniscus was still youthful looking for a 25 year old wine. The 2nd bottle was drunk first, having rested it for an hour or so, and I was disappointed with the length of flavour, even after trying to aerate the wine in the mouth, as it was surprisingly short and lacked the sophistication that I had expected. Neither of the wines improved over the course of a long meal, nor much later. Disappointing. Sadly, another bottle had been given in June 2023 to a relative, who is also an amateur and an experienced collector, and he thought the bottle given was also very disappointing.
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Opened at Fasano in New York, the 1998 Château Palmer took about an hour in the decanter to hit its stride, but when it did - wow. Enjoying some champagne whilst simultaneously checking in on the nose, I was greeted by alluring scents of cigar box, blackcurrant, dark cherries, vanilla, cassis and a hint of smoke. The palate, though, was extremely representative of the Merlot used in the blend as rich blackcurrants, plum and light red cherries came across, working in tandem with more tertiary elements of cedar wood, iron and herbs. The finish showed just how young this was drinking, as well as how much life this bottle has ahead of it, introducing notes of jam and anise. As a whole, this possess the silkiness and elegance of a mature Margaux, but this bottle is only going to get better with time.
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12/31/2023 - roland nyffeler Likes this wine: 92 Points
great wine experience, 6 L imperial. Smooth, well balanced fruits, tannins and acidity. Beautiful finish.
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12/27/2023 - wineforth Likes this wine: 95 Points
2nd bottle of 3 in a mixed case of super seconds bought from the Wine Society en primeur and stored in a wine fridge since delivery. Excellent condition. Had the first bottle 7 years ago and it has developed a lot since. Nose has aged with mushrooms, coffee, chocolate, leather and undergrowth at first then becomes cleaner with blackcurrant, plums and violets. Medium weight body a touch light mid palate as you would expect from an average vintage. Loads of silky fine tannins. Finish good but not great. Lovely wine and one of the best of the vintage. 89 is still my favourite. Drink up.
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12/25/2023 - SW3SaladDodger wrote: flawed
Opened 2 bottles of the 1998 Ch Palmer today. Wine had been stored "professionally" since delivery to the UK, until 18 months ago and cellared carefully at home. Levels of both bottles were top of the shoulders. The first cork started to disintegrate but I removed it using skewers carefully either side of the cork relatively easily without disturbing the sediment. Wines were carefully decanted using a lit candle vehind the neck of the bottle and noted both the wines had thrown a considerable sediment. Sadly, the first wine smelt foxed, albeit musty and mushroomy, and as though the bottle had not been correctly cleaned. I decanted the contents and let it rest. The second bottle also had a similarly similarly delicate cork but came out intact. The nose was unsurprisingly better, but not rich, colour of the meniscus was still youthful looking for a 25 year old wine. The 2nd bottle was drunk first, having rested it for an hour or so, and I was disappointed with the length of flavour, even after trying to aerate the wine in the mouth, as it was surprisingly short and lacked the sophistication that I had expected. Neither of the wines improved over the course of a long meal, nor much later. Disappointing.
Sadly, another bottle had been given in June 2023 to a relative, who is also an amateur and an experienced collector, and he thought the bottle given was also very disappointing.
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12/23/2023 - jdlee1232 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Brilliant
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12/16/2023 - ankitmehra Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened at Fasano in New York, the 1998 Château Palmer took about an hour in the decanter to hit its stride, but when it did - wow. Enjoying some champagne whilst simultaneously checking in on the nose, I was greeted by alluring scents of cigar box, blackcurrant, dark cherries, vanilla, cassis and a hint of smoke. The palate, though, was extremely representative of the Merlot used in the blend as rich blackcurrants, plum and light red cherries came across, working in tandem with more tertiary elements of cedar wood, iron and herbs. The finish showed just how young this was drinking, as well as how much life this bottle has ahead of it, introducing notes of jam and anise. As a whole, this possess the silkiness and elegance of a mature Margaux, but this bottle is only going to get better with time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment