By Palmer's more precocious standards, the 1986 is tightly-knit and closed. It reveals an impressive dark ruby/purple color, with a slight lightening at the edge. Aromatically, the wine is tight, with some black fruit, floral, truffle, and cigar box scents emerging after extended breathing. On the palate, the wine possesses excellent ripeness and richness, but all of it is submerged under layers of high tannin. The wine has been going through a compressed, ungracious stage, and seems destined for a far shorter life than I originally projected. Like so many of the 1986 Medocs, this effort from Palmer has the capacity to test its purchasers' patience. The wine will not be a great Palmer, but I have high hopes that it is going to merit the affixed numerical score, and perhaps even turn out to be outstanding.
