The Chateau enjoyed almost perfect conditions during picking with superb phenolic ripeness; a trait of this appellation in 2015. The Merlot is magnificent, aromatic and beautifully ripe. The relatively high alcohol is balanced by the dense tannic structure. The wine has beautiful freshness and is very long. It oozes class and is an utter pleasure to taste.
The making of the new 1961. (a legendary Palmer vintage) James Suckling, Score: 99-100
This has real class and sophistication, a Palmer that will repay those with the nous to cellar it for 10-15 years. Expect it to reside at the top of my banded Score. Neal Martin, Score: 95-97
Chateau Palmer is one of the outstanding 2015s.
£1090 per 3 magnums (150cl) IB
A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, this exudes the sweetness of Merlot fruit with its open aromas of cocoa, mocha and wild bramble fruits. In the palate it has a lovely succulence, with giving rounded tannins. An extremely stylish example of this great Château’s wine. Drink 2022-2037. Goedhuis, Score: 94-96
The 2015 Palmer has a wonderful bouquet with layers of dark cherry, boysenberry, a faint hint of dark chocolate and minerals. There is superb delineation here. The palate is medium-bodied, but this constitutes a decidedly more structured Palmer than I have encountered in recent years, perhaps a little more masculine due to the slightly higher Cabernet content. This is a classic Palmer made by winemaker Thomas Duroux, symmetrical in some way, poised and effortless on the finish. Those who like the more showy Palmer might not warm to this 2015, but this has real class and sophistication, a Palmer that will repay those with the nous to cellar it for 10-15 years. Expect it to reside at the top of my banded Score. Neal Martin, Score: 95-97
A wine with incredible character and style with black ink and blueberry aromas and flavors. Full body, extremely fresh and structured with riffing tannins. It is muscular and powerful. White pepper, sea salt, mineral, stone character. A wine built for the long term. The making of the new 1961. James Suckling, Score: 99-100
While the second wine from this esteemed Château, Alter Ego, focusses on fruit ripeness, Grand Vin Palmer focusses on phenolic ripeness and this is clearly evident in this elite wine. There is marked concentration, depth and intensity making this Nureyev to Alter Ego’s Fonteyn. There is sublime freshness on the nose of this wine. Winemaker Thomas Duroux explained that his careful biodynamic approach might have slowed this wine down and unlike many others which seem fairly precocious and eager, this is a wine stuffed with active energy as opposed to layered with passive energy. I cannot agree enough with this assertion because this is a Palmer with brooding power and a very long life ahead of it. Matthew Jukes, Score: 18.5++
