Château Palmer

Château Palmer

Château Palmer is a leading wine estate in Margaux. Within its appellation, Palmer is certainly the closest rival to its first growth neighbor, Ch. Margaux. Although officially ranked a Third Growth, at their best, the wines of Ch. Palmer are among the greatest anywhere in Bordeaux.

The estate dates to the 17th century, though it was not until 1814 that Englishman Charles Palmer took ownership and gave it his name. In 1938, the estate was bought by four Bordeaux négociant families, two of whom – Sichel and Mähler-Besse – still own the property today. Since 2004, the estate has been led by the charismatic agronomist and oenologist Thomas Duroux, who had previously made wine at Ornellaia in Tuscany.

Thomas undertook major renovations, including completely modernizing the grape reception area, the vat rooms, and barrel cellar. In the vineyards, the technical team began experimenting with biodynamic farming, and today Palmer is among the leading biodynamic vineyards in Bordeaux. In addition to the grand vin, the Ch. Palmer’s portfolio also includes a cuvée called Alter Ego.

Introduced in 1998, Alter Ego is produced from grapes grown on dedicated plots and blended differently from the grand vin. As such, the estate regards it not as a second wine but as a distinctive cuvée in its own right.

Palmer lies in the commune of Cantenac, just outside the village of Margaux. 66 hectares of vines are planted on a plateau of gravel, sand, and clay soils overlooking the Gironde estuary. Plantings include equal parts of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon at 47% each and 6% Petit Verdot. Although the average age of the vines is fairly typical of the region at about 40 years, some of the vines are over 70 years old. That, along with the relatively high Merlot content and the benefits of careful, well-established biodynamic practices, may account for the wines’ richness and complexity.

Fermentation occurs in conical, stainless-steel vats in varying sizes, allowing each variety and parcel to be fermented separately for subsequent selection and blending. The grand vin is aged for 20-22 months in barrels, of which less than 50% is new. Thanks to the health and consistency of the estate’s biodynamically produced fruit, Palmer has been able, over the past few years, to safely reduce the quantity of sulfites added throughout the process, aiming to produce wines with more freshness and purity of flavor. For Alter Ego, less new wood is used, and aging time is slightly reduced to produce a wine the estate describes as “distinguished by its freshness of fruit, crisp intensity, and richness from the moment out of the barrel”.

Between 2008 and 2013, Ch. Palmer made the transition to 100% biodynamic farming. In addition to its vineyards, the estate is home to a diversity of complementary plants and grazing animals.

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£352.00 – bottle (75cl)
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Historical XIX Century Wine, Château Palmer (L20.16)
Red
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Full Bodied
Dry
13.0% Alcohol
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£435.00 – bottle (75cl)
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2018 Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2018
Lay down
Full Bodied
Dry
14.5% Alcohol
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Available in bond
2016 Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2016
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Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
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2016 Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2016
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Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
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Available in bond
2014 Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2014
Drink, at peak
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
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2014 Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2014
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Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
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2015 Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2015
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Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
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2009 Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2009
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Full Bodied
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14.0% Alcohol
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2013 Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2013
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Full Bodied
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13.0% Alcohol
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2019 Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2019
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Full Bodied
Dry
14.0% Alcohol
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Available in bond
2019 Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2019
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Full Bodied
Dry
14.0% Alcohol
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2017 Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2017
Drink, at peak
Full Bodied
Dry
13.0% Alcohol
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2017 Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2017
Lay down
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
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Available in bond
2005 Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2005
Drink, youthful
Full Bodied
Dry
14.0% Alcohol
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Available in bond
2005 Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2005
Drink, at peak
Full Bodied
Dry
12.5% Alcohol
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2011 Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2011
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Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
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2004 Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2004
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Full Bodied
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13.0% Alcohol
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2012 Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2012
Drink, at peak
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
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2010 Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2010
Drink, at peak
Full Bodied
Dry
14.5% Alcohol
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Available in bond
2010 Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2010
Lay down
Full Bodied
Dry
14.5% Alcohol
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Available in bond
Historical XIX Century Wine, Château Palmer (L20.10)
Red
Drink, at peak
Full Bodied
Dry
12.5% Alcohol
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Available in bond
Historical XIX Century Wine, Château Palmer (L20.13)
Red
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Full Bodied
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13.0% Alcohol
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1999 Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
1999
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Full Bodied
Dry
12.5% Alcohol
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Historical XIX Century Wine, Château Palmer (L20.19)
Red
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Full Bodied
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13.5% Alcohol
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Historical XIX Century Wine, Château Palmer (L20.20)
Red
Drink, youthful
Full Bodied
Dry
13.5% Alcohol
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2021 Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
Red
2021
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Full Bodied
Dry
13.0% Alcohol
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