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.
Yielded at a relatively small 41hl/ha, and aged for 12 months in 1/3 new oak barrels, this vintage of Olivier shows a lovely fresh and raspberry-scented claret, with an underlying streak of sweet cherry and mocha. There is elegance in abundance, some ripe and chunky tannins, but these melt toward the finish. Long, elegant and refined.