Wine Advisor
Palmer 1983
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
One of the superb wines of the vintage, the 1983 Palmer continues to display a saturated purple/garnet color, and an intense perfume of jammy black fruits, smoked meats, flowers, cedar, and Asian spices. Super-concentrated, powerful, and full-bodied, this huge, unctuously textured wine is approaching its plateau of maturity. Because of the high Merlot content it can easily be drunk now, yet promises to last for another 20-25 years. I remain convinced that the 1983 will be the finest Palmer since the great 1961. Last tasted, 5/93.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at Chateau Palmer over dinner during Vinexpo. A very intense nose, with more lift than the 1989. Blackberry, violets, a touch of liquorice: very complex with brilliant delineation. The palate is very pure and intense with a beguiling balance and harmony. Natural and refined, more open than the 1989. Just reaching its prime, although it has the depth to suggest many pleasurable years ahead. Tasted April 2006.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A show stopping nose that has a distinct tang of anis amongst fresh red berried fruits. Medium-bodied on the palate with well-knit tannins. Quite conservative and “correct”, you could almost describe it as being a little brusque. Notes of blackberry, cigar box and damson, stern on the finish. Very long and persistent. Classic in every sense of the word, though not quite as stellar as I anticipated. Tasted October 2006. Drinking -2020
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Tasted 14 Times Since Bottling With Consistent Notes One of the superb wines of the vintage, the 1983 Palmer continues to display a saturated purple/garnet color, and an intense perfume of jammy black fruits, smoked meats, flowers, cedar, and Asian spices. Super-concentrated, powerful, and full-bodied, this huge, unctuously textured wine is approaching its plateau of maturity. Because of the high Merlot content it can easily be drunk now, yet promises to last for another 20-25 years. I remain convinced that the 1983 will be the finest Palmer since the great 1961.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the Amuse Bouche offline in Hong Kong. Compared to the First Growth next door, Palmer can be a little variable but this is certainly and great example of the 1983. It has a beguiling Pinot Noir-like nose...as if this Margaux is toying with you, pretending to be something else. It has great purity, very floral with fresh violets, Bakewell tart and maraschino. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, great balance and a velvety, lifted finish that fans out with style on the finish. Bon vin. Tasted November 2011.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This wine goes from strength to strength, and is certainly a candidate for “wine of the vintage.” It has surpassed even Chateau Margaux in recent tastings. The color is an opaque plum/purple. The wine has a fabulously complex nose of smoked duck, white flowers, cedar, Asian spice, creme de cassis, melted licorice, and espresso. Super-concentrated, very powerful, full-bodied, and huge, this is undeniably, one of the biggest, most concentrated, and powerful Palmers made in the last 40 years. The wines has thrown off the rugged tannins that were so prominent during its first 10-15 years of life and has become increasingly seamless and compelling. Potentially this wine remains the most extraordinary Palmer after the 1961. Anticipated maturity: Now-2020. Last tasted, 10/02.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
One of the superb wines of the vintage, the 1983 Palmer continues to display a saturated purple/garnet color, and an intense perfume of jammy black fruits, smoked meats, flowers, cedar, and Asian spices. Super-concentrated, powerful, and full-bodied, this huge, unctuously textured wine is approaching its plateau of maturity. Because of the high Merlot content it can easily be drunk now, yet promises to last for another 20-25 years. I remain convinced that the 1983 will be the most powerful Palmer since the compelling 1961. Last tasted 9/97
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted single blind at the Fine Wine Experience horizontal in London. This legendary Palmer has a deep garnet core with a mahogany rim. The bouquet has an attractive sweetness with hints of dark chocolate, coca, leather, raspberry coulis and hot bricks, with its savouriness coming through with time. The palate is medium-bodied, very harmonious and elegant, excellent definition with such freshness and vitality. It retains that sense of “conservatism” that I have always felt with cigar box and autumn leave mixed with a touch of mulberry towards the poised finish. This is a great Palmer. Drink now-2020. Tasted October 2008.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the Château Palmer vertical in London, this was the finest 1983 Château Palmer that I have encountered. The nose is ethereal with wonderful definition: mint-tinged red berry fruit, cedar, dried rose petals and very subtle acrid tang of a November bonfire. It is the definition and purity that is beguiling and yes, it is reminiscent of the 1961. The palate is beautifully balanced and lithe in the mouth. Like previous bottles, there is a Burgundy-like sensibility about this Palmer, sensual in the mouth with a crystalline finish that will have you reaching for the glass for another sip. Robert Parker stated that the 1983 was the best vintage following the epochal 1961 and I completely concur. This 1983 Palmer is probably at its peak now, although I have no doubt that it will continue to cruise at high altitude for many years. Tasted May 2015.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 1983 Palmer is utterly sublime, as it always has been. The nose is simply ethereal, exact and focused, with vestiges of blackberry and raspberry fruit, crushed violets, minerals and a touch of wild mint. It just grows in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, more body and depth than the 1990 tasted alongside, very harmonious and slightly granular towards the finish. There is a trace of balsamic on the aftertaste imparting even more freshness and tension. Simply brilliant - a benchmark Palmer with few rivals. Tasted at 67 Pall Mall.
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.
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