Chateau Palmer 2019

Chateau Palmer 2019

Chateau Palmer has been one of the most consistent and highly regarded wines in Bordeaux for many years, and also one with fantastic ageing potential. Situated in Margaux and covering 66 hectares, the vineyard is planted to 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot. Soils here are a mix of gravel, clay, and sand. Interestingly their greatest parcel of land that is situated just behind the Chateau was not part of the property at the time of the 1855 classification and explains in part why Palmer was only granted Third Growth status. The 2019 vintage in Margaux was one that even seasoned vintners viewed with a kind of quiet awe. Nature graced the vignerons with an almost textbook perfection of climatic conditions, lending the 2019 Palmer from Chateau Palmer a character enrobed in complexity and finesse.

The 2019 Palmer was always going to be stylistically a completely different kettle of fish than the preceding vintage. It was bottled in early August 2021. As winemaker Thomas Duroux foretold, it’s a much more classically styled Palmer, offering blackberry, briary and pressed iris petals scents rather than violet, along with a distinct marine influence; a touch of sea spray comes through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, tightly knit on the entry, and very fresh and saline, with just a very slight bitter edginess toward the almost Côte de Nuits–like finish (especially returning to my glass after 20 minutes). Quintessential Palmer, this will require 4–6 years in bottle. Drink 2027 - 2055. 97 points Neal Martin - Vinous

Iris and violet aromatics swirl out of the glass. In the mouth, things are velvet in texture and packed with concentrated cassis puree and blackberry fruit, gentle spice, soft charcoal and sappy tannins, with the whole thing just slowly slowly expanding and building through the palate, tightening its grip as it reaches the close of play. The Palmer signature of energy and precision is here in spades, and altogether the wine is both measured and elegant, with textbook floral Margaux character, while being extremely juicy, creamy and enjoyable, with a mouthwatering salinity on the finish - up there with the very best vintages of this estate. Low SO2, as has been the case for a few years now in line with biodynamic principles. Back to normal yield this year of (a very welcome I would imagine) 45hl/ba. Harvest September 19 to October 19. 60% new oak, likely to be in barrels for the first year then large sized oak casks for the second year. 55% of overall production in the 1st wine. 98 points Jane Anson - Decanter

Dark and intense in colour, a beautiful purple. Very aromatic on the nose, fine, pure ripe fruit, with nuances of black fruit. Ultra precise on the palate, melts in the middle, full of body and flavour, the wine caresses the palate, lengthens with hints of black fruit reminiscent of Syrah. It persists for a long time, complex, with fine-grained tannins (translated from French). 97-98 points Jean-Marc Quarin - Quarin.com