Complexity. That of a terroir, expressed in the wines of Château Palmer. Parcel by parcel, the estate’s teams must nurture it daily. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, protected and enriched by nature in all its diversity, develop notes of fruit, flowers and spice. Never exuberance – on the contrary, with each passing year, ever greater harmony, and length omnipresent. Aromatic richness, powerful tannins, and between them – velvet.

100 Points - Decanter

Beautifully rich even on the nose, this makes you smile from the first moment. On the palate things are intense and concentrated, as you might expect with an 11hl/ha yield (mildew-related). Upfront flavours major on big bitter chocolate with touches of smoke and grilled cedar, lots of savoury fruits and touches of reduction. Extremely impressive how layered and textured it is, though it really needs decades to reveal itself. There is the seductive floral edge of Palmer as it opens in the glass, but this is a muscular wine that needs time. 79% new oak. No Alter Ego in 2018. Bottled July 2020 after one year in barrel and a second year in larger Stockinger barrels for 20% of the crop to soften the oak influence. It's extremely hard for top estates to deliver consistency and innovation over decades; it really is like a sports team in that way, and this is a standout success in what was an extremely challenging year for Palmer. Drinking Window 2028 - 2050