Chateau Palmer 2014

Chateau Palmer, 3eme Cru Classé Margaux, Bordeaux, France, 2014  

Grapes: A blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, 55ha vineyard on gravel soil, no added sulphites, aged 20 months in French oak barrels (up to 60% new)

Two hundred years after Major-General Palmer took over the property, the chateau has released its first ever vintage of fully Biodynamically produced wine.

The 2014 harvest began on 22 September, and ended under glorious sunshine on 14 October. The ideal weather allowed the grapes to be picked at perfect ripeness, with no botrytis pressure. The decision, this year, to not add sulphites at harvest, enabled the grapes to express their full complexity immediately. During blending, everything was handled gently and meticulously to preserve the beautiful, velvety texture of the grapes’ juices. A silky, deeply coloured vintage began to take shape. The biodynamic approach confirmed its potential right from the first tastings!

Below are some thoughts from Palmer's production team about the 2014 wine and the growing season:

“After 2013, we felt ready to take our responsibilities in hand and roll out exclusively biodynamic farming across the entire estate” Thomas Duroux — Director of Château Palmer

“In the end, we found ourselves with an energetic, harmonious vintage whose fine aromatic palette has continued to grow over time” TD

“Château Palmer 2014 has taken to cellaring magnificently, exuding fruit and minerality, and continues to surprise us while confirming its exceptional character” TD

“In 2014, the ecosystem was moving towards a state of harmony and we could take the next decisive step in our vision for the estate” Sabrina Pernet — Technical Director of Château Palmer

“We had made a commitment, putting our trust in biodiversity and the vines’ natural resilience” SP

Producer's Tasting Note:

2014 is an energetic, silky vintage,with bold aromas and moreish notes of black fruit, spices, black pepper and prestige wood. The texture is refined, like a caress. The wine is more silky than velvety, and beautifully harmonious. While it may have been a little shy at the start, its ten years of rest seem to have imbued it with a new maturity, revealing subtleties otherwise undetectable in its younger years. Ten years old already – just ten years old – and so much still ahead!

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Bright, dense crimson. Meaty and fresh. Massive precision. Edgy but with great fruit in the middle and masses of energy. Refined and racy. Quite a strong statement. For the lovely long term. So long." Drink 2026-2045

18/20 points, Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com, May 2017

"The 2014 Palmer builds on the promise that it showed in barrel. It is clearly a more understated and nuanced Palmer from winemaker Thomas Duroux this year, but a Margaux with exquisite delineation and precision, hints of blackberry, boysenberry and a touch of pencil box. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin. It feels supple and lithe in the mouth. It will not have the depth and power of the subsequent 2015 Palmer, yet the "flow" is very sensual and the Merlot (45% of the blend) just lends it roundness and a caressing texture. What a beautiful Margaux and I bet it will be deceptively long-lived." Drink 2020-2050

94/100 points, Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, March 2017