Château Palmer - Margaux 1996

Wine Advocate

91 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe3/31/2001

Palmer 1996 se montre sous un bon jour en bouteille. Arborant une superbe robe d'un pourpre soutenu, il s'annonce par un nez peu évolué, mais intense, de prune noire, de groseille, de réglisse et de fumé. L'attaque en bouche révèle un fabuleux fruité, qui s'estompe ensuite au profit de la structure et des tanins de l'ensemble. Ce vin étonnament peu évolué, mais doté de matière impressionnante, pourrait se révéler la version moderne de son aîné de 1966. Il regorge de fruit, ses tanins sont bien fondus, mais il requiert une garde de 3 à 4 ans avant d'être prêt. A boire entre 2008 et 2028. 91+

Wine Advocate

91 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/1999

This wine, a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, is performing well after its July, 1998 bottling. It boasts an impressively saturated purple color, in addition to a backward yet intense nose of black plums, currants, licorice, and smoke. Following terrific fruit on the attack, the wine's structure and tannin take over. There is plenty of sweet fruit, and the tannin is well-integrated, but the wine requires 7-8 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2028.

Wine Spectator

91 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/31/1999

Dark-colored, and bubbling over with raspberry, black currant and spices. Full- to medium-bodied, with well-integrated, silky tannins and a spicy, fruity aftertaste. Palmer is always a joy to taste and the '96 is no exception. Best after 2002.

Wine Advocate

88-91 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1998

Palmer has finally invested in a new state of the art winemaking facility, with temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, and an impressive new cuverie. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, the 1996 is a powerful, dense, backward wine that recalls the 1986. The wine is more difficult to judge because of the high Merlot component, and the fact that this wine has not yet totally fleshed out. It is an impressively built, medium to full-bodied, muscular, rich claret. If it develops more complexity and puts on a bit of weight, it will be an outstanding Palmer, with less early charm than top vintages, but built for the long haul. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.

Wine Advocate

86 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe3/31/1997

This wine is extremely perplexing. The color is a deep ruby, rather than the saturated purple/black so many Medocs possess. The wine exhibits a disjointed, hollow mid-section with plenty of astringent tannin. Some sweet plum and cherry fruit emerges with airing, but the 1996 Palmer appears to have a large hole in the mid-palate. I will be anxious to retaste this wine later this year to see if it fleshes out. At present, it is one of the most conspicuous underachievers in the Medoc.