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Air photo of Palmer and surroundings

© ASP Editions

Château Palmer is one of the few remaining aristocrats among Bordeaux wines. Palmer has neither let it influence by present acrobatics in vinification, technical sidesteps and modern trends. This property has kept hard by the classic style – some would mean genuine Bordeaux style – where ripe fruit and ripe tannin compliments each other in the best possible way. Here, aromatic finesse and elegance is mixed in finest possible way with power and sappiness on the palate, sophisticated structure and exquisite balance. This is exactly what Bordeaux is famous for and something wine producers from all over the world try to incorporate in their wines. Even if Château Palmer is only classified as 3.Growth according to 1855-classification, it’s one of the most respected, stable and demanded producers in Bordeaux.

PERFECTLY SITUATED

Palmer is situated in Haut-Médoc on right side of the so-called “Route de Vin”, half-way between Cantenac and Margaux communes, with only few kilometers away from Gironde river. Vines grow on 52 has big vineyard with mainly gravelly soil with small stones containing quarts. The composition of grapes varieties used is classic: 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet and 6% Petit Verdot. Average age of vines is 37 years.

WINES

Today, two wines are made at Palmer. Grand Vin which bears name of the property and Alter Ego (since 1998). Alter Ego isn’t a typical second wine of Palmer, more like a blend of cuvees from different parcels of the vineyard, which don’t have quality required for Grand Vin.

Harvest is done manually and both wines undergo in temperature controlled stainless steel vats. Only through the end of malolactic fermentation, wine is transferred to oak barrels. It’s not filtrated, only clarified with egg-whites. Palmer spends 20-21 months in 50% new barrels, while Alter Ego gets 16-18 months in 30% new barrels.

2008 Palmer (barrel sample) 94-95p

Tasted in March 2009. This wine had very seductive aroma of dark cherries, great intensity, silky tannins and graceful finish. Very stylish and sophisticated wine with extreme elegance. Great effort for the vintage.

2007 Palmer (barrel sample) 92p

Tasted in April 2008. It expressed in its special own way seductive aroma of dark cherries, soft texture, silky tannins and soft finish. Very stylish and gracious wine, and therefore so typical for the commune. Spledid effort for the vintage.

2006 Palmer (barrel sample) 94-95p

Tasted twice - last time in October 2007. Consistent notes. This wine did really challenge Château Margaux with its powerful performance. It was packed with ripe blaccurrants and raspberries, and had plenty of nuances and refinement. Extremely stylish and gracious, and therefore so typical for the Margaux commune. I think there is at least 20 years entertaining life in this wine.

2005 Palmer 96p

Tasted twice - last time in October 2007. Consistent notes. Now in bottle. Palmer was as always a perfect example of beautiful elegance and finesse, the goodies Margaux commune is so famous of. This was a complete wine and a heartbreaker of rarely seen calibre. Decadently rich and multifacetted. Aristocratic and sophisticated wine with a really long life ahead. 20-30 years og maybe even longer.

2004 Palmer 94p

Tasted twice - last time in October 2007. Consistent notes. Now in bottle. This was return to classic style for Palmer from the somewhat atypical 2003 vintage. It appeared as an extremely elegant and very aromatic wine with much finesse, silky texture and tannins. Long and caressing aftertaste. Aristocratic. All in all a stupendous wine to enjoy in the next 15-18 years.

2003 Palmer 92p

Tasted in April 2007. Deep red. It had really splendid nose of aromatic mirabelle plums in the beginning and was fresh all over. Later, both nose and palate took on blackcurrants/blackcurrants drops. This was quite concentrated and powerful wine on the palate, showing splendid intensity of fruit, refinement and fine length, althogh not quite typical for the property. It finished with long and strong aftertaste. 12-18 years horizontally in the cellar.

2002 Palmer 94p

Tasted in April 2007. Darker color than in 2003 Palmer! It had an incredible depth on the nose with glorious intensity and refinement, and strong aroma of blackcurrants and raspberries. This wine was very rich, strong and sophisticated on the palate with formidable balance, finesse, length, structure and aristocratic touch all over the place. It’s luxurious enjoyment now and it will be like that in the next 18-25 years. For sure, this is one of top wines in this vintage.

2001 Palmer 94p

Tasted in September 2007. Dark red, Really fine and aromatic on the nose with red berries. Fresh, vivid, meaty, flavorful and long on the palate. Tannins were both strong and ripe, and corresponded beautifully to fruit. One more aristocratic wine to add to Palmer's collrection of stunning vintages. Will easily keep for additional 20 years.

1999 Palmer 96p

Tasted twice - last time in September 2007. September bottle was more closed than the bottle tasted in April 2007, but final impression turned out to be the same. Almost black in color! Like in 2002, there was here grandiose gift offering of aromas, aristocratic touch, finesse and stunning balance. This wine seemed to be silkier in the structure, more elegant and richer on nuances than 2002. It had an unbelievably delightful aroma of black cherries. This is a genuine and really wonderful Palmer who will keep all its delicacies intact in the next 20-25 years.

1998 Palmer 93+p

Tasted in April 2007. Black red. Classic Bordeaux style with strong tannins and concentrated fruit, which keep each other in ”hand”, so neither tannin nor fruit breaks out in solo performance. This wine had little development and needs therefore time to show true face of Palmer. Palmer. Absolutely worth waiting for.

1996 Palmer 95p

Tasted twice - last time in September 2007. Consistent notes. Almost black red color. Already on the nose it was obvious, that Cabernet Sauvignon was the winner in this vintage. Mint, leather and cigar box on large scale. It was beautifully constructed, refined and with concentrated shape, powerful and sappy, but also delicate, elegant and with striking lusciousness. This was textbook Palmer – beautiful wine which easily can keep its excellent ingredients in additional 20 years.

1995 Palmer 92p

Tasted in September 2007. Deep red. Powerful nose of ripe blackcurrants and raspberries. On the palate it was chewy, well-constructed with nice balance and fine aftertaste. This was a bit lighter wine than usual for the property, but nevertheless a wine you really would enjoy without any reservation. This one should keep for 12-16 years more.

1991 Palmer 90p

Tasted in September 2007. Deep red. Very aromatic on the nose with chocolate powder and prunes. Soft and round on the palate with ripe fruit. Super effort for this difficult vintage, thanks to neighboring Gironde river, which kept devastating black frost in April away from Palmer. Drinks very well now.

1990 Palmer 91p

Tasted in September 2007. Very developed color for the vintage - medium red. Aromatic with cherries, seemed very mature,  well-balanced and very nice to drink. A very enjoyable Palmer, which should keep like that for 4-6 years more.

1986 Palmer 93p

Tasted in April 2007. Dark red. It showed superb nose of dark berries, tobacco and liquorice. Splendidly balanced with fine and long palate, plus lasting aftertaste. It did remind in some way of 1996, but 1986 showed less intensity and fewer nuances. Nevertheless, this wine was a stupendous effort for the property and the one to satisfy many wine souls in the next 10-12 years.

1981 Palmer 88p

Tasted in September 2007. On the light side with spicy fruit. This wine started with somewhat strange flavors, which were not clean. I suspected this wine did suffer from a little oxidation/cork taste, but one hour later these odd flavors luckily disappeared. All in all a nice and round wine to be consumed in the next few years.

1970 Palmer 97p

Tasted in April 2007. Still young color. It shows incredibly rich, sophisticated and intense on the nose. There were many fruit aromas here, wine appeared extremely well-balanced and with sheer elegance. In the palate, it was multidimensional and with such sophisticated touch, that you simply lost your breath. An aristocratic wine with extremely delightful style and high class, which easily holds 10 more years in the cellar, if stored properly as our bottle was.

1966 Palmer (low stand) 95p

Blind tasted. The first thing strikes me is the beautiful aroma of truffles, chocolate and cherries. Very Merlot for sure! It’s obvious, that this wine is Bordeaux, but which Bank? My first impression is Right Bank, somewhere in the 60’s. But it’s not Right Bank and my friend who gave this wine, leads me to a Left Bank wine with some good percentage of Merlot. Château Margaux maybe, eh….. Nope, it’s the neighbor, Château Palmer 1966! Very stylish, classy wine with striking elegance and finesse, exquisite balance and soft aftertaste. A thrill to drink.

1961 Palmer 99p

Tasted three times - last time in March 2006. Consistent notes. Deep ruby red color with brown edge. Lots of beatifully scented luscious fruit, silky tannin, incredible balance, sophisticated and refined. This a legendary wine, which hasn't changed significantly since I tasted it for the very first time in 1987. A true dignified aristocrat wine, who has standed change of time. Simply amazing.

1865 Palmer 100p

This is the oldest red Bordeaux wine I've ever tasted! It happened in June 1993 in Bordeaux. Recorked at the property in 1990. Very light red colour but with simply magnificent and otherworldy aroma of cherries, aristocratic elegance and finesse. A real angelic treat from the past - I'll never forget this wine!!

2008 Alter Ego (barrel sample) 88p

Tasted in March 2009. Aromatic, subtle and elegant. Smooth aftertaste.

2007 Alter Ego (barrel sample) 87p

Tasted in April 2008. This wine provided very delicate, round and extremely charming drinking.Will entertain while we wait for big vintages to mature.

2006 Alter Ego (barrel sample) 89p 

Tasted twice - last time in October 2007. Consistent notes. Powerful wine which is quite similar in style to 2004, but imho wasn't so aromatically scented as 2004.

2005 Alter Ego 89p

Tasted in April 2006. Aromatic wine with fine structure. It will develop in something really nice.

2004 Alter Ego 91p

Tasted in September 2007. Deep red. Intense nose of black cherries and blackcurrants. This was a well-crafted wine with splendid balance, quite rich and with soft aftertaste. A real heartbreaker wine to be enjoyed in the next 10-12 years.

2003 Alter Ego 89p

Tasted in April 2007. This wine contains of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot. Aromatic red berries like raspberries, redcurrants and gooseberries, and fine balance on the palate. The fruit tasted warm here with a distinct taste of prunes and the aftertaste left a dry sensation. This was a quite well-made wine, which in my opinion will mature rather quickly. It’s drinkable already now.