Palate
A supple and fruity wine with ripe tannins, both subtle and elegant.
Although 1971 was a complicated vintage at Château Palmer, it held some pleasant surprises. It portrays its finesse and elegance with great precision. It is full-bodied without being exuberant. Its finish is incredibly well balanced.
Growing Conditions
Wet, then warm. In 1971, numerous spring showers hurt the flowers on the vine. More than half died on the ground. Luckily, the sun shone all summer, bringing the grapes to ripeness.
1971 reflects a moment of grace in a contrasting vintage. After a cold winter, the start of spring was promising. The vines began to grow on April 12th. Thanks to the elevated temperatures, they developed at an incredible speed. Wet and cold weather came on April 22nd and continued on until the end of June thus disrupting the flowering process. Ongoing rain resulted in a lack of flower fertilization and the harvest was therefore reduced by almost half. July and August were more lenient. The summer months were hot with just enough showers to help the berries to swell. Thankfully, despite the irregularities during the flowering period, maturation unfolded in good conditions. Fine weather allowed for harvesting at optimum maturity.
