Region
France > Bordeaux > Margaux
Producer
Chateau Palmer
Grape
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Classification
3eme Cru Classe
Chateau Palmer 3eme Cru Classe, Margaux
· 2011·
WO score
WO score is the average of all critic scores for this wine
Tasting notes
The opaque blue/purple-colored 2011 Palmer reveals a stunning bouquet of licorice, truffles, camphor, spring flowers, black raspberries and black currants. One of the superstars of the vintage, this brilliant 2011 possesses superb concentration and purity, medium to full body, and remarkable length of close to a minute. A tour de force in winemaking, the Palmer team merits... read more/less
...accolades for achieving this level of quality in a more challenging vintage than either 2009 or 2010. The “wine of the vintage†in Margaux, tiny yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare, a final blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a severe selection (only 55% of the production made it into Palmer) are the reasons for this success.
Winemaker Thomas Duroux continues to fine tune this already brilliant estate, producing first-growth quality wines year after year.
The opaque blue/purple-colored 2011 Palmer reveals a stunning bouquet of licorice, truffles, camphor, spring flowers, black raspberries and black currants. One of the superstars of the vintage, this brilliant 2011 possesses superb concentration and purity, medium to full body, and remarkable length of close to a minute. A tour de force in winemaking, the Palmer team merits... read more/less
...accolades for achieving this level of quality in a more challenging vintage than either 2009 or 2010. The "wine of the vintage" in Margaux, tiny yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare, a final blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a severe selection (only 55% of the production made it into Palmer) are the reasons for this success. Winemaker Thomas Duroux continues to fine tune this already brilliant estate, producing first-growth quality wines year after year.
Chateau Palmer's 2011 yields of a minuscule 20 hectoliters per hectare were caused by the overall drought conditions, the extreme heat at the end of June, and some problems during flowering. Only 55% of the crop made it into Palmer, and given the lowest yields since 1961, the final blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon possesses huge tannins, but they are remarkably... read more/less
...velvety and sweet. This opaque purple-colored, dense, concentrated, full-bodied wine will need time to totally form its personality. The harvest, which occurred between September 10-24, produced a big, boisterous, concentrated wine that should age for 25-30 or more years.
The 2011 Palmer has a ripe sweet bouquet of black cherries, blueberry, a touch of iodine and crushed violets, flamboyant as usual. There is a hint of cough candy that develops with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm grip. There is a carapace of toasty tannins underneath which lies a core of dense black fruit, although it does not have the same degree of finesse on the finish as say, Rauzan Segla. This is quite a serious Margaux, one that probably deserves longer ageing than others to allow those brusque, rigid tannins to soften. Tasted April 2012.
Chateau Palmer's 2011 yields of a minuscule 20 hectoliters per hectare were caused by the overall drought conditions, the extreme heat at the end of June, and some problems during flowering. Only 55% of the crop made it into Palmer, and given the lowest yields since 1961, the final blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon possesses huge tannins, but they are remarkably... read more/less
...velvety and sweet. This opaque purple-colored, dense, concentrated, full-bodied wine will need time to totally form its personality. The harvest, which occurred between September 10-24, produced a big, boisterous, concentrated wine that should age for 25-30 or more years.
Vinous
Tasted: 05/01/2012
Drink:
Author: Ian D'Agata
(a 55/45 blend of merlot and cabernet sauvignon; 90 IPT): Fully saturated ruby-purple. Richer and deeper on the nose than the Alter Ego, offering ripe blackberry and chocolate aromas accented by minerals and violet. Juicy and intense, with lovely lift to the small berry fruit flavors. Finishes pure and long, with smooth tannins and lovely floral lift that leaves the taste buds vibrating. This very successful Palmer should be one of the stars of the vintage.
Contact details
Address
Chateau Palmer, Lieu dit Issan, Margaux, Gironde, France
Chateau Palmer, Lieu dit Issan, Margaux, Gironde, France