Château Palmer 2023

Deep dark color, noble on the nose, dark berries, tobacco, herbs, Christmas spices; voluminous attack that then firms up, well structured, gripping tannins, crisp fruit, plenty of tension, becoming increasingly light-footed toward the finish, showing breed and length. Impressive.

What a Palmer in 2023! Crazy aromatics, full and bright, packed with intense scents of pink and purple flowers, damson fruit — clearly ripe with 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 call opulent, 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 Merlot brings to the blend. Powered and structured, but less serious than some, with great energy, generosity and charm in terms of texture, yet it’s focused too with 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 30 hl foudre. pH 3.75. 13% press wine. 32 hl/ha yield.

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.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Delicate mandarin zest, ripe heart cherry, fresh blackberry, delicate hint of liquorice, still somewhat reserved. Complex, powerful, red cherry, ripe, firm tannins, racy acidity, currant touch on the finish, fine herbal savouriness in the aftertaste, lingers, a full-bodied food companion.

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 32 hl/ha. What an incredible perfume: freshly picked alpine blueberry, seductive iris scent and graphite. On the second approach, noble cassis spice, sour cherry juice and chocolate pastilles. On the densely interwoven palate with a velvety texture, a dancing, vibrant breed, intoxicating abundance of extract and a well-toned body. In the never-ending, energy-charged finish, the Margaux explodes: blue berries, elderberry nectar, deep, dark minerality and fine-grained astringency.

Far less reserved than it was during En Primeur, this has really expanded over ageing, showing cloves, slate, graphite, cassis, bilberry, cigar box, oyster shell, squid ink, fine tannins, stretching out through the palate. Gorgeous stuff, right at the top of the game in terms of capturing the effortless signature of 2023 in the best wines. 32hl/h yield, 55% new oak for ageing during the first year, with the wine then moving into 3,000l oak casks for the second year. One point upscore.

Score: 95–97. Like a benevolent fairy-tale king, the nose is dressed only in purple. Everything is about distinction and delicacy, with aromas of wild berries and freshly cut flowers. The wine’s graceful yet insistent presence on the palate is truly unique. Tension, balance, and power, all wrapped in a silky package, for a sensual and floral wine.

Not the most highly rated of Bordeaux vintages, but a lovely exercise in style focused on finesse at château Palmer. It almost has a Pinot-like character—crisp, very fresh—evoking morning dew, peony, lilac and iris. The palate isn’t especially broad-shouldered; it unfolds with a straight, rather streamlined profile, held together by a fine acidic backbone. Delicacy prevails, supporting a beautiful outline of the wine: easy to digest, lively, very subtle and charming.

Violets, tobacco, blackberries, cigar box, spice, and black cherries form the perfume. On the palate, the wine is silky, lush, polished, and fresh. There is length, purity, velvety tannins, and a racy, energetic, fruit-packed finish, with an exotic touch of cardamom on the back end that adds even more edge. The almost seamless finish resonates for 50 seconds. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot. 14% ABV, 3.75 pH. The harvest took place from September 11 to October 5. Waiting those extra few days in September made the difference in the wine this year. Yields are a scant 32 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2029–2065. 97–99 pts.

A black coffee aroma gives a wine that is full of rich tannins. It has weight and structure that gives immense promise for a wine that should age well. It is dense, with a high proportion of Merlot as usual, with a fine juicy character. Drink from 2029.

This is youthfully compact, with a winey core of black cherry, blackberry and boysenberry preserves that rides along the juicy and nicely inlaid acidity, while dried violet, rose hip, sandalwood and black tea notes weave around. Shows a rather serious tug of iron at the end, adding grip and depth that sets this apart from the pack. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2027 through 2040. 11,500 cases made.

The bouquet’s breadth and finesse tie together notes of dark berries, violets and raspberries, expressing a style focused on freshness as well as complexity. Velvety on the attack, the wine unfolds along a subtle, linear line with a saline, mouthwatering touch. The impression of finesse becomes ever more tangible, as do the tannins that settle in calmly on the finish. A deep, powerful, elegant and persistent wine.

Deep, intense, beautiful black colour. A very aromatic nose, refined, fruity, liquorice-tinged and so fresh, set against a background of black fruits. It’s impossible to make out the grape varieties! Extremely precise on the attack, very aromatic on the mid-palate, the wine melts across the palate, noble and complex. It finishes deep and rising, with great tannic distinction. Lots of elegance. It’s impossible to spit!

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.