Category: | Red Wines |
Sub-Category: | Red Wines |
Producer: | Palmer |
Label Name: | Margaux 3eme Cru |
Vintage: | 1961 |
Country: | France |
Region: | Margaux (Cantenac), Bordeaux |
Volume: | 750ml |
ABV: | 12% |
Grape(s): | Merlot 52%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Petit Verdot 13%, Cabernet Franc 5% |
Acidity: | 3 |
Tannins: | 2 |
Sweetness: | 1 |
Body: | 5 |
Length: | 5 |
Aroma Intensity: | 5 |
Best Temperature: | 16-18°C |
Awards/Ratings
Historic high acclaim — Robert Parker 99/100; Wine Independent ~98; Neal Martin (Antonio/WA tasting) reported up to 100 in some tastings; Falstaff 95–96; frequently listed among the best of the 1961 vintage
Tasting Note
Perfumed, silky Margaux: candied violets, redcurrant and black cherry with truffle, tobacco and sweet spice. Mature, concentrated, with a sweet core of fruit, melted tannins and an exceptionally long, liqueur‑like finish.
Food Pairing
Roast lamb, braised beef, mushroom risotto, oxtail stew, aged hard cheeses, seared foie gras; Asian: Peking duck, char siu, Korean BBQ short ribs, soy-braised beef with star anise.
Production Method
Traditional Bordeaux vinification — hand-harvested, fermented in temperature-controlled vats with extended maceration, malolactic fermentation, then aged in French oak barrels (~20–24 months).
Vineyard Info
Château Palmer, a 3ème Cru Classé (1855) in Margaux; ~55 ha estate known for refined, floral, Bordeaux blends; producer of Grand Vin and Alter Ego (since 1998).