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).