Wine Advisor
Palmer 1970
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
This is more like it (after a questionable showing in 2006), confirming that this is an excellent Palmer and a great ’70 claret. A garnet core with a tawny rim – quite youthful in appearance. The nose is quintessential traditional claret: cedar, a touch of leather, sous-bois, fresh tobacco and just a hint of wild mint. Very good definition. The palate is medium-bodied with firm structure, good acidity, lovely poise and focus with a core of black fruits complemented by a touch of black olive tapenade with hints of red cherries just on the aftertaste. Quite rounded in texture with a surprising tang of ginger on the aftertaste. Excellent. Drink now-2015. Tasted March 2008.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Not yet fully mature, the 1970 Palmer is one of the great wines of the vintage. It exhibits a dark, opaque garnet color, and an emerging, fabulously complex, exotic nose of licorice, over-ripe plums and blackcurrants, soy, cedar, and minerals. Rich and concentrated, with medium to full body, a sweet inner-core of fruit, firm but silky tannin, and a long, rich finish, this remains a youthful, potentially superb Palmer. While approachable, it will benefit from another 3-5 years of cellaring, and will keep through the first 10-15 years of the next century.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The nose is evolved yet still provides a fruity core of warm cherries backed up by game, tobacco leaf and a subtle earthy / mushroom character. The palate has a wonderful old-school structure with a medium+ level of slightly chewy tannins and a crisp backbone of acid. Long layered finish of savoury and mineral flavours. Drink now. Tasted January 2009.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
This has always been a great 1970 in the past, but here not showing so well. A deep garnet core with tawny rim. The nose is very muted whilst the palate is structured but distinctly lacking in vivacity and joie-de-vivre. Stern, correct and not particularly appealing. Muted, subdued finish. This bottle failed to show up on the day. Tasted October 2006.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
First tasted in November 2003 lunching in London and what a lovely wine! A wonderful nose of cedar, damp moss with a rounded quality. The palate is supple with impressive depth and very cohesive. Violets and cedar: not incredibly complex but it is the balance and concentration that makes this wine so attractive. Fabulous acidity has kept this so fresh and vital. Good length. Very close to the 1966 in quality. Superb Palmer. Drink over the next decade. Again at Clarks restaurant in July 2004. Still a lovely Palmer. A nose of woodland, black olives and tobacco. Great definition. he palate is very elegant with moderate complexity but wonderful balance. Good acidity - very fresh with a minerally, cigar-box finish. Drinking now.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A Possible Legend Candidate
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the Château Palmer vertical in London, the 1970 Château Palmer (again) disappoints compared to marvelous showing in the 1990s, suggesting that its decline has been far more rapid than say the 1966 or the 1961 even. It has quite a deep hue with brick rim. The bouquet starts well with a succinct nose: pomegranate, wilted violet and bay leaf, nicely defined, if lacking horsepower. The palate is medium-bodied with a lightly spiced entry. It does not own the finesse or complexity of those aforementioned vintages and it seems to lose some of its flesh and concentration to what is an austere, drying finish. There is nothing terrible here, but it is a Palmer that has obviously seen better days. Perhaps larger formats are continuing to offer pleasure? Tasted May 2015.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 1970 Palmer is a vintage that I have tasted on several occasions, although recently, I have encountered some variation, including a rather rum example in 2015. The most recent example has an attractive tobacco-infused nose, perhaps more akin to a Saint-Julien than a Margaux. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm backbone, a slight dryness around the edges and fine salinity with lightly-spiced cedar and tobacco notes on the finish. This is a solid 1970 Margaux, though I would not keep it long-term.
About the Producer
The fine seaside climate and soils of Long Island’s North Fork provide exceptional conditions for the making of world-class varietal wines. With 110 acres planted with Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc to supply the winery’s 20,000 annual case production, Palmer strives to preserve and enhance the purity of flavor and distinctive, fresh character which makes this region’s wines so unique. The state- of-the art winery contains the most modern winemaking equipment available today, and also includes substantial new French oak cooperage, purchased each year, for both barrel fermentation of our Chardonnay and the aging of our premium red varietals.
1955(1)1960(1)
Package Size
