Chateau Palmer 1996
- Vintage
- 1996
- Country
- France
- Region
- Bordeaux,Margaux
- Size
- 750ml
- Rating
- WA91, WS90
- Grape
- Cabernet Sauvignon,Merlot
Tasted at the Château Palmer vertical in London, the 1996 Château Palmer is a wine that never quite fulfilled its potential. There is satisfactory fruit intensity on the nose, blackberry and truffle, a touch of vanilla and violet developing with time in the glass. The palate still feels a little backward, but there is good grip and freshness. This is a harmonious 1996 Margaux and yet it feels conservative and straight-laced on the tobacco-infused finish. It is quite a "serious" Palmer, yet it does not quite back it up in terms of complexity or, for want of a better word, "soul." Good...but you end up wanting more, especially having tasted the likes of 2000, 2005 and 2010 alongside. Drink: 2016~2030 - WA91
Gorgeous aromas of currant and flowers follow through to a full-bodied palate, with silky tannins and a medium finish. A little more bottle age will open it even more. Very pretty.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008. - WS90
Palmer and its Alter Ego are two nuanced expressions of the Chateau Palmer terroir, two interpretations of the variations offered by the climatic conditions of the vintage.
Alter Ego was born with the 1998 vintage. It resulted from a new approach to selecting and blending devised to interpret the Chateau Palmer terroir differently without departing from the values that make the reputation of our wines namely, finesse and elegance, aromatic richness, harmony and length. Offering intense, crispy and juicy fruits, Alter Ego is a spontaneous uninhibited wine, soft and round as soon as it has finished barrel ageing. Its lush aromas and supple tannins make it a wine that can be appreciated in the first years after bottling.