Recent notes suggested this wine was declining and the fruit fading.This was cause for concern as have a few of these I’ve been patiently cellaring. Well, I’m very happy to report this bottle, a Martine’s import, was stellar. To my palate, the wine is in a perfect place. Tertiary aromas and flavors dominate. Very complex aromas of sous bois, herbs de provence, wet saddle and red fruits. The palate is vivid and lively. Extraordinary depth and length that never faded. I can’t say enough great things about this wine. There’s no chance this bottle was fading or won’t last several more years. I don’t think it can improve as it’s almost perfection right now. Simply a stunner. — 2 years ago
1979 held ip super well after travelling from France to the US then to Germany for the uncorking. Notes of dark cocoa, deep plum, cherry, saddle leather — 4 years ago
Mmmm....better. 1999 was a meh vintage to most critics. I find it has evolved to better things with this much time in bottle.
The nose reveals, ruby and candied; blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, black raspberries, raspberries, poached cherries & strawberries. Touch cooked green bell pepper, mixed berry licorice, anise to black licorice, used leather, saddle-wood to cedar, dark, moist, black earth, limestone, stones, graphite, vanilla, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg and dark spice, coffee, dark chocolate with fresh & withering, dark, red, blue and purple flowers.
The body is just full. The tannins are soft, round, chewy and tarry. The structure, tension, length and balance are pretty good for 99. ruby and candied; blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, black raspberries, raspberries, poached cherries & strawberries. more cooked green bell pepper on the palate, mixed berry licorice, anise to black licorice, used leather, saddle-wood to cedar, dark, moist, black earth, limestone, stones, graphite, vanilla, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg and dark spice, coffee, dark chocolate with fresh & withering, dark, red, blue and purple flowers. The acidy is nice. The finish is elegant, well balanced but, not as rich as other good vintages Palmer. It is spicy and persists minutes on the palate.
Photos of; Chateau Palmer, their barrel room, a photo of their vineyard soil structure-if you didn’t know where all that earthiness comes from, a picture is worth a thousand words and their tasting room. — 4 years ago
See several previous tasting notes for this wine. This was made back in the day when Hunter Valley reds had strayed from their medium bodied, savoury, sweaty saddle origins to being riper and more full bodied like a South Australian Red. This was declared in a speech by Chief Winemaker at the time, Jim Chatto, at a dinner I attended at the winery. Also plenty of oak still evident at 15 years of age. I prefer the original Hunter Valley style which Mount Pleasant has wisely reverted to utilising the wonderful old vine fruit at its disposal. Tasted again 35 weeks later on 26th March 2022. Nothing to add to the note here. A Hunter Valley wine trying to look like a South Australian wine back in 2006 with ripe fruit and oak. Thankfully HV reds have returned to the medium weight savoury long living style that Maurice O’Shea made in the 1950’s. — 3 years ago
Gor
Saddle leather, cedar, spice, lingonberry, plum, hint of licorice. Full bodied and structured with a long finish. Great stuff. — 10 days ago