Chateau Palmer 2023

Sensational aromatics of ripe black cherries, blueberries, chocolate, roasted herbs, graphite, and violets emerge from the 2023 Château Palmer, a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot that spent 12 months in 60% new French oak followed by 12 months in foudre. It's deep, rich, and full-bodied on the palate, with flawless balance, ripe, polished tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It brings another level of brilliance, elegance, and finesse yet is deep, rich, and incredibly pure. It's one of the wines of the vintage and is distinctly Palmer! Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 30 years or more. There are roughly 11,500 cases produced. Drink 2030-2060.

• Trinkreife: 2030 - 2060
• Name des Kritikers: Jeb Dunnuck

Bottled in August 2025, after a year in barrique followed by a second year of maturation in foudre, the 2023 Palmer has turned out beautifully. Bursting from the glass with aromas of plums and blackberries mingled with notions of licorice, iris and exotic spices, it's medium- to full-bodied, with a broad, unctuous attack segueing into an ample, layered, multidimensional mid-palate girdled by sweet, powdery tannins. Sensual and demonstrative but unerringly precise, it's a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot that was picked between September 11 and October 5.

• Trinkreife: 2030 - 2055
• Name des Kritikers: William Kelley

This is so perfumed, with aromas of dried flowers, sandalwood, black currants and blueberries. Medium- to full-bodied with tannins that melt into the wine and a beautiful texture that caresses every inch of the palate. Seductive and polished, with ripe fruit and citrus acidity. 50% cabernet sauvignon, 46% merlot and 4% petite verdot. Drinkable now, but this will give wonderful drinking pleasure in three or four years.

What a Palmer in 2023! Crazy aromatics, full and bright, packed with intense scents of pink and purple flowers, damson fruit - clearly ripe no doubt, but no overt heat with some graphite and liquorice on the nose too and the dried herb Cabernet notes. Rich, layered and voluptuous, one you could use the word opulent to describe, full of flavour and really fruit forward. Not as overtly juicy as some, more harmonious and balanced, the tannins are perfectly integrated with the fruit and acidity with the added plushness that the Merlot gives to the blend. Powered and structured, but less serious than some with great energy, generosity and charm on show in terms of texture but it’s focussed too with a long length. Something very captivating about this. Lots of cool classicism on the finish with a salty, mineral, oyster shell undercurrent. 55% new oak for the first year in barrel then one year in 30hl foudre. 3.75pH. 13% press. 32hl/ha yield.

• Trinkreife: 2033 - 2050
• Name des Kritikers: Georgina Hindle

The 2023 Palmer was bottled in July 2026, the same time as Alter Ego. As you might expect, this is a little more control and precision on the nose by comparison, hints of peony and violet pinpointing its Margaux origin. Superb delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with silky smooth tannins. Just a bit more backbone at the moment compared to its First Growth neighbor tasted directly before, a little more graphite comes through toward the finish. This Palmer coats the mouth and seems to be one of the most mineral-driven within the Margaux appellation. Excellent.

• Trinkreife: 2030 - 2065
• Name des Kritikers: Neal Martin