CHATEAU PALMER 3eme Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2016 Bottle

Description

Chateau Palmer 2016 is a spectacular example of why this estate is held in such high regard across the world. In Margaux, few can match Palmer for its ability to combine immense power with a haunting, floral elegance. This vintage is a beautiful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with a touch of Petit Verdot, and the result is a wine that feels incredibly complete.

On the nose, it is wonderfully fragrant, offering notes of violets, black cherries, and a hint of truffle. The palate is velvety and rich, but it is the precision and freshness that really stand out. The tannins are remarkably fine, providing a seamless structure that suggests this wine will age gracefully for many decades. It is a soulful and sophisticated Margaux that captures the magic of the 2016 vintage perfectly.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 98+
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Drink Date: 2024 - 2060
The 2016 Palmer is a blend of 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot. Opaque garnet-purple colored, it slowly glides out of the glass with compelling notes of blueberry compote, warm cassis and kirsch with emerging hints of violets, cigar box, black tea, sandalwood and Sichuan pepper. Medium to full-bodied, wonderfully rich, concentrated and packed with latent energy, the palate literally grows in the mouth, revealing layer upon layer of black, blue and red fruits and tons of floral sparks, framed by super ripe, incredibly fine-grained tannins and finishing with epic length. It’s a wine that makes you wanna drape yourself languidly over a chaise lounge, glass of Palmer in hand, sighing with deep satisfaction, “This is so wonderfully Palmer.”

DECANTER 98
Tasted by: Jane Anson (at Primeur week tastings in Bordeaux, 03 Apr 2017)
Drinking Window: 2027 - 2050
The grand vin represents 65% of production in 2016, the highest ever. It has many similarities in style with the 2001 and 1986, being a classically styled wine full of soft slate, fern, liquorice and cassis, but from the modern era where you can achieve so much more precision. This is a wine that makes you smile from the first sip, and keeps on getting better, caressing you gently across the palate. There is never any let up through the mid-palate, and the biodynamics that have been practised here for the past few years are clearly paying off. Elegant, utterly silky and precise, the structure is just effortless with reasonably fresh alcohols that are the result of late ripening. A perfect example of the appellation, it has the florality, density and slow tannic pace that means it takes you right along with it as the flavours build. The blend is 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot. Intellectual without being overbearing, and built to age. This is impressive stuff.

JAMES SUCKLING 98
Tar, smoke, dark chocolate, dark berries, tobacco, and earth on the nose. Precise, focused tannins and dark fruit on the palate. Compact yet expressive, showing attractive harmony. Layered and persistent. Approachable with some aeration, but will benefit from continued aging. Drink or hold. 10 Years On retrospective.
Jacobo García Andrade, Senior Editor

VINOUS 98
Drinking window: 2026 - 2070
The 2016 Palmer has a generous, slightly lactic bouquet of opulent red fruit infused with touches of dark chocolate, although it calms down and gains more grace with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and well-judged acidity. Very harmonious, revealing cedar and mint toward the extraordinarily persistent finish. This is another classy, persistent Margaux with a long future ahead. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.
Neal Martin. Tasting date: January 2020