Beschreibung:

Château Palmer--Vintage 1961
1 bottle per lot
1961 PALMER IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION Château Palmer--Vintage 1961 Cantenac (Margaux), 3me cru classé. Château-bottled Recent release. Excellent appearance. Levels into neck Tasting note: The senior staff at Palmer have generations of experience but I wonder if they can pinpoint the precise reason for the success of their '61. Despite, perhaps because of, the perverse growing conditions, the wine had achieved an unusual balance of sugar and acidity, and perfect ripeness. I confess that the first time I tasted it, a Berry Bros' bottling, I described it as having a deep, fine, velvety appearance, 'slightly austere yet rich on the palate' and 'frankly disappointing', more to do with me than the London bottling. This was in January 1972, so then it already had some maturity. I am glad to say that the subsequent (two dozen) notes, all château-bottled, made up for this initial slight. Indeed, in 1973, I noted its very rich, remarkably concentrated nose and taste, awarding it 5 stars, and at Dr Taams's epoch-making horizontal tasting of 1961s in 1978, gave it 20/20 for its 'Burgundian richness, mulberry-ripe fruit. Complex, fragrant' etc.etc. Sixteen similarly glowing notes spanning the 1980s. More recently among the more memorable at Wolf's Aschau tasting in 1994, my highest mark of all the top '61s and '59s. The following year a superb bottle at a Saintsbury Club dinner, its silky and harmonious bouquet accelerating like Michael Schumacher from the starting grid. Full-bodied yet elegant, fleshy yet, lissome. In 1998 an old wine trade friend, Jim Hood, recklessly opened two bottles at dinner in Bristol, and I think there were only six of us, including wives, and one with a cold. Most recently at Len Evans' 'Single Bottle Club' dinner in the Hunter Valley in Australia. Now of course, less deep but an indescribably lovely bouquet and flavour. Perfection. Sept 2000 ****** Will go on Michael Broadbent, Vintage Wine 1 bottle per lot