Chateau Palmer

Beef, Lamb, Game (deer, venison), Poultry

At once extravagant and perfectly chiselled, Château Palmer 2015 is the archetype of the suavity that the estate's wines know how to display. Open and expressive, this long-ageing wine can be enjoyed now. Years ending in five – with the notable exception of 1965 – have always produced top-quality wines. The beginning of the vine’s growing season was characterised by a relatively dry climate. The vegetative development was extremely regular and the flowering conditions perfect. The rainfall that followed the fertilisation of the flowers enabled good berry growth. At the end of June, temperatures rose and the dry weather settled, favouring an early end to vegetative growth, the thickening of the skins of the berries, the concentration of the tannins and the rapid growth of the pips. End of July, the weather conditions changed radically as we were faced with a succession of moderate rainy periods. This had the effect of unblocking the veraison and developing the berries, which reached a more classic size. The Margaux appellation enjoyed especially favourable weather conditions throughout September. We harvested a few young vines on 15th September, but the harvest started in earnest on 22nd September. The Merlot grapes were magnificent, rich and very ripe. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot followed, and were just as promising. The relatively high alcoholic content of the 2015 vintage is balanced out by a dense tannic structure without any rustic notes, thanks to perfect phenolic maturity of the pips and skins. At this time, this outstanding balance leads us to believe that 2015 will be in line with recent great vintages, such as 2010, 2009 and 2005.

A gentleman officer and aide-de-camp of the Prince of Wales Charles Palmer was famous at the English court as a ladies man and for his military victories. He fell under the spell of Bordeaux as well as the charms of Marie de Gascq a beautiful widow who convinced him to buy her estate. Charles Palmer devoted a great deal of time energy and money to developing his property. The Major General lived mainly in England and so the estate was managed by his authorized representative Mr Grey who helped to increase the wine's reputation among wealthy connoisseurs. In June 1853 the brothers Isaac and Emile Péreire famous bankers and rivals of the Rothschilds bought Palmer and began investing in the estate immediately. However there was not enough time to bring Chateau Palmer up to first growth status in time for the famous 1855 classification. It was thus ranked a Third Growth although it is widely recognized as among the greatest wines of Bordeaux. Several families of Bordeaux English and Dutch extraction all involved in the wine trade united to buy Palmer in 1938 and have worked hard to give the estate its present reputation. These families have always given priority to quality despite the financial risk this entailed. They have unfailingly applied the principles that have made the great wines of Bordeaux so successful: authenticity quality and permanence.