2009 Château Palmer – what a fantastic wine! Truly one of the best wines I have ever tasted. This winery has a century-long history, always aiming at producing the very best wines. In 1855, Palmer was classified as a 3rd Growth – I would challenge that classification, based upon my own experience, and improve it to at least 2nd growth. Still a little behind Château Margaux, but not much.
The estate has 66 hectares, situated in the Margaux classification, overlooking the Gironde. The soil is gravelly, which means poor soil, unfit for agriculture, but great for vines. In 2009, the estate changed to biodynamic viticulture, so the 2009 Château Palmer is not yet biodynamically made. Composed of equal parts of 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 52% Merlot, with a touch (7%) of Petit Verdot, this is a Bordeaux blend at its best.
Dark ruby colour, brilliant and pure. A pleasure to look at. In the nose, a glorious bouquet of complex aromas, round and pleasant. Dark berries, cherry, plum, blueberry, blackberry, a hint of vanilla… an overwhelmingly beautiful nose. On the palate, the dark fruit is confirmed, a fine acidity gives this wine a lively expression, voluptuous, intense and imposing the body of this wine, with tannins very well integrated, yet with room to melt a bit more, but already very sensual and pleasant. The finish is wonderful and almost endless. 2009 Château Palmer – what a great wine!
I’ll leave my other bottles develop a bit more in the cellar, because if anyone asks me “Why don’t you give 100 points for a wine that great?” my answer is “Because I would want to have the tannins a tiny little bit more melted and dissolved.” This wine still has great potential and will hold for another 20 years at least.
TBM 98 points.
