Nestled in the heart of the Margaux appellation, Château Palmer is a testament to the profound connection between nature, craftsmanship, and the potential for greatness. If a reclassification were ever in the cards, Château Palmer would undoubtedly be up for a promotion. This Third Growth Margaux estate transcends its ranking from 1855, earning the admiration of wine critics worldwide and deserving a place among the higher ranks.
The wines of Château Palmer, sensationally fragrant and richly complex, represent some of the finest examples of Bordeaux's winemaking mastery. Their grand vin, a true marvel, captivates with its mesmerizing aromas and multi-layered flavors that evolve with each sip. But their second label, Alter Ego, has achieved a cult-like following. If a new classification were to occur, Alter Ego would effortlessly claim a position as a Fourth Growth wine or higher. Wine enthusiasts eagerly seek out Alter Ego, which embodies the same dedication to quality and artistry that defines Château Palmer.
The history of Château Palmer stretches far beyond its namesake. Originally part of Château d’Issan, the vineyards caught the attention of the visionary Madame de Gascq. Recognizing their immense potential, she boldly proclaimed that the wines rivaled those of the esteemed First Growth properties in the Médoc. Charles Palmer, an Englishman who shared her conviction, purchased the estate and named it after himself. Under Charles' stewardship, the property expanded its holdings to 80 hectares. In 1843, the Periere family acquired Château Palmer, investing significant resources into its modernization. Today, the legacy of Château Palmer is carried forward by a group of influential négociant families, including the Mähler-Besse and Sichel families, who remain major shareholders and custodians of the estate.
Guiding Château Palmer into a new era of excellence is the dynamic and talented winemaker Thomas Duroux. With an impressive background that includes overseeing the iconic Super Tuscan legend Ornellaia, apprenticing at Château Léoville Las Cases, and working at renowned wineries such as Mondavi and Tokay, Duroux brings a wealth of expertise to Château Palmer. Embracing a holistic approach, Duroux transitioned the vineyards to 100% biodynamic viticulture, making Château Palmer a pioneer in the region. Sheep graze amidst the 60-hectare vineyards, contributing to the ecosystem, while a herd of cows provides natural fertilizer. Special teas made from nettle and horsetail nourish and protect the vines, and the estate even employs soundwave machines that emit tones and vibrations to enhance the development of protein cells in the vines. Since 2017, Château Palmer has proudly held the Certified Biodynamic status, with their 2014 vintage being the first to embody this commitment fully.
The viticultural team at Château Palmer embodies a culture of respect for the land, the wines, and one another. Their unwavering dedication and consistent pursuit of excellence yield profound wines that resonate year after year. Château Palmer is a beacon of craftsmanship, a testament to the timeless harmony between terroir, artistry, and the human spirit. Immerse yourself in the symphony of flavors and aromas only Château Palmer can offer, and discover the Renaissance of Margaux in each glass.
"The 2022 Château Palmer is utterly brilliant, so much so that I questioned in my notes if this would challenge the 2018. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, from tiny yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare, its mammoth-sized personality offers layers of blue and black fruits, notes of melted chocolate, crushed stone, and spring flowers, building, velvety tannins, and a great, great finish. While many estates commented that they extracted less in the vintage, Palmer went in a different direction and extracted more during the vinifications to provide a solid backbone to match the concentration and power of the vintage. It appears to have worked brilliantly, and hats off to Thomas Duroux for having the confidence to go his own path. He has produced a truly Grand Vin in 2022. The alcohol here is a normal 14.4%, and the pH is a healthy 3.79." - Jeb Dunnuck (6/2023) Ratings: 97-99
"Composed of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Palmer is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a lot of shaking and swirling to lure out a soft-spoken perfume of roses, lavender, star anise, and cloves, leading to a profound core of Morello cherries, fresh, juicy blackberries, and blackcurrant cordial. The full-bodied palate is stacked with layer upon layer of black, blue, and red fruits, supported by a skyscraper structure of very firm, very ripe, grainy tannins and superb tension, finishing with epic length and depth. This is a monumental achievement. pH 3.79." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent (5/2023) Ratings: 96-98
"The 2022 Palmer was cropped at just 22hL/ha due to the berries being 25-30% smaller than usual. It bursts forth on the nose with precocious black cherries, blueberry, violet and touches of marmalade and tobacco in the background. Complex and expressive. The palate is structured, with the tannic backbone, that winemaker Thomas Duroux talked about, lending this Palmer a sense of verticality. Hints of black pepper emerge with time, multi-layered, a powerful Margaux and yet the IPT is actually lower than elsewhere (76). Quite linear on the tobacco-infused finish, which is just quintessential Palmer. Do reserve a bin in your cellar for this and let it gather dust for at least a decade. 14.4% alcohol." - Neal Martin, Vinous, (5/2023) Ratings: 96-98
"Dark brooding fruits, this is intense and concentrated, ripe flavours with an exotic edge, cassis, roasted plum, damson and star fruit with a curl of woodsmoke and tobacco leaf, set against fresher edges of blueberry and iris. This is serious, structured, with everything turned up pretty high, giving the imprint of the vintage in its black pepper, rosemary, turmeric, mandarin peel and clove. 3.79ph, harvest September 7 right through to October 5. Blend done by December, yield 23hl/h. Ageing sees the first year in barrel, then second year in larger sized oak casks to minimise oak impact, something that will be particularly important in a year with these unusually high alcohols." Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux, (04/18/2023) Ratings: 96 Drink: 2030-2048
