Chateau Palmer 1995

DECANTER: "The wild strawberry sweetness and curling floral aromatics of a great older Margaux are creeping in at this point, along with clear white pepper spice, iris flowers and gentle black truffles. This was the first vintage to be produced in the new cellars, so going from old wooden vats to temperature-controlled stainless steel. Also the last vintage of the famous Chardron brothers, who had worked as cellar master and vineyard master for decades, so it really marked the end of one era and the beginning of another. There is a clear, quiet beauty to this wine. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040"

ANTONIO GALLONI: "Red-ruby color. Lower-pitched, redder aromas of plum, redcurrant and mulberry. Soft, sweet and lush, with an enticing layered texture and plenty of body. Currently more expressive in the middle palate than the ´96 but not quite as sharply delineated; conveys an impression of lower acidity. Finishes with very good length and even, ripe tannins. This gentle, ripe, seductive wine seems virtually unaffected by the bottling."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "51% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc. Bottle deposit. Brownish ruby. Much broader and more seductive than the 1996. Much more life and suppleness and concentration. This is good stuff. Real stuffing here and richness. Lovely breadth and this seems to have quite a future even if it is capable of giving huge pleasure already. Proves how important Merlot is to Palmer."

THE WINEADVOCATE: "Bottled in July, 1997, this wine includes an extremely high percentage of Merlot (about 43%). It is a gloriously opulent, low acid, fleshy Palmer that will be attractive early and keep well. Dark ruby/purple-colored, with smoky, toasty new oak intertwined with gobs of jammy cherry fruit, and floral and chocolate nuances, this medium to full-bodied, plump yet elegant wine is impressive. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020."

WEINWISSER: "Ziemlich dunkles Rubin, nur wenig Reifetöne. Er zeigt sich noch erstaunlich fruchtig, hat Maulbeeren und eine zarte Süsse drin und dabei eine erstaunliche Konzentration vermittelnd. Im zweiten Ansatz nussige Konturen, zarter Rosinenschimmer und die typischen Palmer-Pflaumentöne. Im Gaumen frisch, stoffig und unglaublich gut unterwegs, die fein aktive Säure gibt ihm weitere Frische und die restlichen Tannine deuten eine geniale Reife an."

WINESPECTATOR: "Big and powerful, with loads of fruit and chewy tannins. Still just a baby. Full-bodied, with lots of structure and a long, long finish. Give it time.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2010. 14,500 cases made."