| Region of Production: | Margaux AOP |
| Winery Location: | The château is in Margaux, but the vineyards are mostly in Cantenac. |
| Year Established: | 1814 |
| Classification: | third growth, Médoc 1855 |
Vineyard Holdings
66 ha
- 47% Merlot
- 47% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 6% Petit Verdot
Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages
- Château Palmer
- Alter Ego: Inaugural vintage 1998 (Previously „Réserve du Géneral“).
- Historical XIX Century Wine: A Vin de France bottling that includes a small percentage of Hermitage Syrah. Inaugural vintage 2004 (2004 was labeled without a vintage).
- Blanc de Palmer: Muscadelle, Loset, and Sauvignon Gris. Inaugural vintage 2007 (for modern rendition).
Average Total Production
- 250,000 bottles (40-50% is the grand vin)
Summary
With uneven performances by Margaux’s second growths, Château Palmer is universally considered to be the appellation’s second-best property, behind Château Margaux. It is a third growth, yet in popular imagination and in the modern Liv-Ex classifications, it is chief among the “Super Seconds” of the Left Bank.
Château Palmer began its winemaking life as Château de Gasq. Purchased and renamed in 1814 by the English general Charles Palmer, Château Palmer amassed 80 ha of vineyards, but the London-based general swam in financial ruin and sold his namesake estate in 1843. In 1853 the Pereire family of Paris purchased the property, but they could not raise the status of a château better known for clairet than claret in time for the release of the 1855 classification. The family did however raise the quality of its vineyards and its wines throughout its 85-year tenure as owners. In 1938, amid worldwide depression and the threat of war, a consortium of Bordeaux négociants purchased Château Palmer; today, two négociant families represent the majority of shares: Sichel and Mähler-Besse. Thomas Duroux, a former Ornellaia winemaker, has been running the estate since 2004. The estate will be Demeter certified in 2019.
Style & Vinification Techniques
The Château Palmer grand vin blend typically mirrors the estate’s encépagement, with nearly equal proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and a small addition of Petit Verdot. In comparison with Château Margaux, the wine here is more supple and slightly more approachable in youth, yet it still has the capacity for long aging. With the higher proportion of Merlot in the blend, Château Palmer rarely exceeds 60% new oak. The élevage lasts up to 20 months. Alter Ego includes an even greater percentage of Merlot and is typically aged in one-third new oak. The estate began using 100% native yeast as well as experimenting with 30 hl foudres in 2017.
Producer Website: Château Palmer