Quite vivid aromatics on the nose, deep and heady, blue fruit, peppercorns, liquorice and cocoa powder. Fruity and really quite dense in terms of chewiness and flavour. Stands out in the line up for being forward, lifted, intense and powerful, grippy and alive. Excellent presentation and character. Feels youthful and fresh, but it's the texture and sense of weight and the long finish that really makes this wine stand out. A great showing for Palmer with a long life ahead.

Beautifully poised, with spiced damson and raspberry fruits, higher acidity than you find in the 2015 or 2016, juicy and just about opening up to drink. Has the generous floral character of a maturing Palmer, where the peony and roses start to take off through the mid palate, hovering above the berry fruits, layering up with complexity, thoroughly enjoyable. A good 10 to 15 years ahead of pleasure. This was the 200th anniversary vintage since General Charles Palmer bought the wine estate from Madame de Gascq. Harvest September 22 to October 14, 60% new oak.

The 2014 Palmer has a clean and fresh blackberry, raspberry and cedar scented bouquet, not complex but nicely detailed. It just needs more personality to develop. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannin, a touch of espresso on the entry tincturing the red berry fruit, saline with a dash of white pepper on the finish. It is not an imposing Margaux, not the longest potentially lived, but it is well crafted. It would not surprise me if this Palmer is beginning to close down after bottling. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. - vinous.com, March 2018

The 2014 Palmer is also quite silky and polished, especially for a young wine. Dense and concentrated, but with gorgeous textural finesse, the 2014 is already quite harmonious. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, mocha, tobacco, menthol and licorice are all pushed forward in an opulent, forward Palmer that should offer a long window of very fine drinking. The blend is 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot.

Tasted blind. Ripe fruited, chewy, powerful. Better than the first bottle but still quite chunky and slightly bitter on the finish. (JH)

Tasted blind. Ripe fruited, chewy, powerful. Better than the first bottle but still quite chunky and slightly bitter on the finish. (JH)