- CRITICAL REVIEWS
- WINEMAKER NOTES
Robert Parker Wine Advocate
2015 Chateau Palmer, Margaux, France
THE LATEST OF A FINE LINEAGE.
Both extravagant and perfectly structured, Château Palmer 2015 is the archetype of the suave character that the estate’s wines display with such talent. Open and expressive, this wine has excellent ageing potential but can also 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 cycle was characterized by a relatively dry climate. The vegetative development was extremely regular and the flowering conditions were perfect. The rainfall that followed the fertilization of the flowers enabled good berry growth. In late June, temperatures rose and the dry weather settled, favoring an early end to vegetative growth, the thickening of the berry skins, the concentration of tannins, and the rapid growth of pips. At the end of July, the weather conditions changed radically and we were faced with a succession of moderate rainy periods. This caused the ripening to begin and the berries grew to a more traditional size. The Margaux appellation enjoyed especially favorable weather conditions throughout September. We harvested a few young vines on September 15, but the harvest started in earnest on September 22. The Merlot grapes were magnificent, rich, and very ripe. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot grapes followed and were just as promising. The relatively high alcoholic content of the 2015 vintage is balanced out by a dense tannic structure free from any rustic notes thanks to the perfect phenolic maturity of the pips and skins. This outstanding balance leads us to believe that 2015 will be similar to other recent great vintages, such as 2010, 2009, and 2005.
BLEND
CHATEAU PALMER
Merlot 44%
Cabernet sauvignon 50%
Petit verdot 6%
ALTER EGO
Merlot 52%
Cabernet sauvignon 42%
Petit verdot 6%
HARVEST DATES
From the
22/9/2015
to the
7/10/2015