Château Olivier has been in the hands of the de Bethmann family since it was acquired by Alexandre de Bethmann in the late-19th century. The de Bethmann family are descended from German nobility, and grew into a successful banking dynasty, and so probably didn’t have any great shortage of funds; the acquisition of an attractive and ancient property such as Olivier was probably not much of a fiscal challenge, especially if we consider the family also owned Gruaud-Larose at one point, and their bank made a significant contribution towards the financing of the construction of the Eiffel Tower.
Dark purplish-red colour. The complex nose is underpinned by ripe, crunchy fruit and spicy notes. Starts out straightforward on the palate with plenty of tannin and no aggressiveness whatsoever. The wine is wonderfully concentrated, with crunchy fruit aromas once again coming to the fore. The freshness contributes elegance, precision, and complexity, culminating in an impressively long finish.