Bit musty, but the fruit is still coming through strong — 52 years later — 4 years ago
The 1970, finally opened in 2020. At 50 years- Rich, round, long finish. Delightful. A deep, dark color. — 6 years ago


Nice, flowery nose — a year ago
The 1970 Palmer is a vintage that I have tasted on several occasions, although recently, I have encountered some variation, including a rather rum example in 2015. The most recent example has an attractive tobacco-infused nose, perhaps more akin to a Saint-Julien than a Margaux. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm backbone, a slight dryness around the edges and fine salinity with lightly-spiced cedar and tobacco notes on the finish. This is a solid 1970 Margaux, though I would not keep it long-term. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 3 years ago
Still dark magenta color with very little browning. Amazingly fresh and continues to improve in the glass over first hour upon pouring. Bouquet of dark fruit, earth, cedar, and faint baking spices. Medium bodied and well balanced flavors of cherry, plum, nice structure that become rounder with some toffee notes emerging after 20 mins. These 375s have been amazing over past two yrs. one left for seeing what happens in the next 5-10 yrs as an experiment. Hard to believe it will fall apart that fast after 50 yrs and still drinking well — 6 years ago
Oldest wine I’ve ever had and an impressive showing at 50 years. Bit brown and leathery but the fruit, acid, and tannin are all still showing. Notes of Nixon and moon landing. — 6 years ago
6/27/2020: JD Tasting — 6 years ago
Elegant. Not showing age - no brown even at edges. M+ length. Perfect with Spanish autumn dinner (venison carpaccio, partridge). — 8 months ago
Poured into a decanter maybe an hour prior to service. The 1970 Tondonia Gran Reserva pours a garnet color with a transparent core, moving towards a slightly orange rim. Medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and absolutely brilliant with a mix of desiccated and ripe fruits: dried Morello and Montmorency cherry, cocoa powder, mushrooms, old leather bound books, an entire cabinet full of dried herbs and spices, a memory of barnyard and a deciduous forest floor. On the palate, the wine is dry with good structure still: medium tannin (fully integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and makes me believe there is something bigger than us in this life. This bottle, on this afternoon, gives the confidence to embrace the mystery. Drink now with an hour of air but I get the sense this is one of those Energizer Bunny wines… — a year ago

Wearing its age well. Lovely fruit still sings above dried earth and herb. — 6 years ago
Évanescent très fin — 6 years ago
Special birth year bottle for a milestone birthday this week. The cork was almost entirely intact and we double decanted to catch all the sediment. A beautiful brick color in the glass, evolving over 4 hours and drinking nicely. Plenty of fruit left and I also picked up a little salinity/olive savoriness. Glad a few friends popped by to share this with me #50inquarantine #socialdistancing 🍷😷🙌🏻 — 6 years ago
Jerry Raphael
Hosted a tasting for a wine group I’ve been part of for over 40 years. I came across this 56-year-old Port in my cellar and felt it was time to drink it—and with exactly the right people to share it.
I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. Right after decanting, my first taste was mostly alcohol, but then it just kept opening and opening. Everything came into balance—nose, palate, and finish were all excellent and incredibly smooth.
Loaded with dark dried plums, figs, cherries, and brown sugar, along with spice and a touch of pepper. I served it with apple pie and blue cheese crumbles, which turned out to be a great match.
— 5 months ago