Château Palmer 2017

Great aromatic complexity, immense precision, exquisitely polished tannins and stunning freshness—refined, elegant, very long on the palate; simply outstanding.

Dark and winey in feel, with ample blackberry, plum and black currant compote flavors leading the way, while licorice snap, singed apple wood, black tea and dark earth notes fill in throughout. The finish is focused, showing a nice buried iron accent. A powerful version of Margaux and a strong effort in the vintage. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2038.

Fruit and supple tannins mingle in this balanced, classic wine. Black-currant flavors are lifted by the energetic acidity and the freshness of the crisp texture. This wine will develop easily, giving pleasure all the way. Drink from 2023.

Beautifully powerful and precise with great depth and character to the fruit, despite the austerity that is more evident now than it was during En Primeur as the wine has begun bed down. These tannins are finely boned but they are plentiful, providing strength in numbers. Bottled end of August after 21 months of ageing. Clearly going to age well, this has concentration, intensity and seriousness where the Alter Ego is more gourmet. A precise and intellectual Palmer, a very fine example of the wine, with a sense of place and a purity to the fruit expression.

Very perfumed and subtle with dried flowers and citrus, as well as blue fruit. Full-bodied with wonderfully diffused, integrated tannins that just run over the edges of the wine. It’s extremely polished and very, very long. Fresh and bright. Energetic finish. A thoughtful wine. A blend of 54% merlot, 42% cabernet sauvignon and 4% petit verdot. Drink after 2023.

The 2017 Palmer was the first vintage when Thomas Duroux introduced wooden foudres. Around 60 hectoliters of the blend was used in the following vintage. It has a very elegant bouquet, a Palmer content to cruise in fourth gear, blackberry and boysenberry fruit, touches of clove and pressed flowers emerging with time, this is a well-defined nose with beautifully integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins. There is a lovely bead of acidity, dark berry fruit, slightly grainy in texture with a tangy saline finish. This is a very classic Palmer that should drink well for 20-30 years. Excellent.

Flowers, exotic spice, black cherry, plum and licorice are announced as soon as the wine the hits the glass. Sensuous, sexy, silky and finesse driven, the red and dark fruits express a purity from start to finish. Give it five to ten years to gain softness and nuance. The wine was made from 54% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. The harvest took place September 20 to September 29 and the wine reached 13.2% with a pH 3.75. Fifty-five percent of the harvest was used to produce the Grand Vin and 15 hectares of vines, which normally go into Alter Ego were damaged by the frost.

Deep dark ruby, purple reflections, delicate brightening on the rim. Nose still rather closed, but with smoky, intense herbal notes, dark berry fruit and a hint of leather underneath. Medium body, fine blackberry fruit, fresh acidity, vivid tannins that are still demanding, red cherry, currant and some saltiness on the finish. Mineral, classic style, but relatively youthful and uncharming.

Deep ruby color with a dense rim. A wonderfully complex, highly elegant bouquet of red cherry fruit, light tobacco, ripe raspberries, and blue-tinged nuances, both on the fruit and floral side. The 54% Merlot is clearly noticeable. Only then do cassis and Cabernet notes emerge. On the palate, it is highly elegant with impressive balance, a masterfully silky texture, and already rounded, very precise tannins. In the finesse-driven finish, the full blueberry-like, florally underpinned allure returns once more; a fantastic wine. It should be worth the temptation in a few years.

Kunz Fassprobe 18: (54% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 38 hl/ha, production 11,000 cherries) A dense, velvety, finely opulent, Burgundy-like bouquet: Amarena cherries, Damassine plums, red licorice, mint. The palate is creamy, dense, full and fruity, with rich, sweet fruit, fine tannins, a tightly knit structure, powerful, complex aromatics, and a long, dense, finely opulent finish with sweet echoes on the aftertaste. Can still improve.

A velvety, elegant, finely creamy bouquet with blue and black berries, tobacco, licorice, and currants. Dense, velvety, multi-layered palate with creamy fruit, fine tannins, a varied dark aromatic profile, elegant structure, and a long, full, powerful finish. Can still improve. 18/20 2024 - 2048

Peony and rosebud aromatics on the nose, welcoming even although the austerity is clear right now. Needs another few years to soften, as has far more density than many 2017s, along with clarity of expression, sculpted blueberry and cassis fruits. Resonates through the finish and as it opens you see the smoked cedar edges and sweet liquorice root. Harvest September 20 to 29, 60% new oak.

Deep color, generous aromas of cedar, blueberry and other black fruits, ripe grapes, impeccable tannin extraction and oak handled with great elegance. You can cellar it without hesitation. Undoubtedly the most complete wine of the appellation.

Making the most of the vintage, 2017 is a vibrant, highly seductive Palmer. Its mid-palate is wonderfully juicy, and its tannins are beautifully refined.

A tactile wine—refined, racy and elegant—juicy and sappy, with very racy, crisp tannins of great finesse, and a long, elegant finish.

Tasting a wine I rated 100/100 en primeur is no easy task, since you have to confirm the score—and at that level there’s no room for error: you can only hold the rating or lower it… The bouquet is exceptional, as much for its intensity as for its complexity and typicity. It is marked by notes of red berries and spices. As the minutes pass, it grows in complexity, revealing subtler, more detailed nuances. The attack is indulgent, juicy, and even slightly suave. The wine has body, muscle and flesh, thanks to tannins that unfold slowly on the finish and provide unwavering support across the palate. The aromatic dimension also emerges mid-palate and is ideally underpinned by the structure, which brings energy and persistence. This Palmer shines not through sheer power, but through a sense of precision and its ability to bring all the elements together with subtlety and finesse. It is, of course, still very young, and today one can note that the tannic structure still needs to integrate further. That said, the greatness it showed en primeur remains intact, and this is a wine with exceptional potential. I am maintaining my 100/100 rating, also in light of the potential of this great wine. The decisive point is the finish: the wine’s ability to highlight aromatic intensity at the end of the palate despite the tannic power. Imagine the director, Thomas Duroux, playing a Duke Ellington piece on the piano… wearing boxing gloves! Well, Palmer 2017 is exactly that.

The nose is fruity and elegant, showing a fine-grained texture, intensity, concentration and delicacy. It reveals notes of blackberry and strawberry, and more subtly cherry and ripe raspberry, alongside delicate hints of violet, nutmeg and sweet spices, with discreet touches of grey pepper (in the background), vanilla and an almost imperceptible hint of sweet blond tobacco. The palate is fruity, balanced and elegant, with a juicy, finely tangy framework, good definition, indulgence, creaminess, finesse and a subtle tension. On the palate, the wine expresses notes of black cherry and juicy, crisp raspberry, with a lighter touch of redcurrant, combined with delicate hints of crisp strawberry and crunchy red cherry, as well as a subtle note of rose, violet, almond and sweet spices. The tannins are elegant, well-handled and structuring. Good length. A very fine chew on the finish.

Dark, deep and vibrant color. An intense, refined and above all complex nose. It unfolds beautifully and purely, with nuances of ripe fruit, a cocoa-like touch, a hint of smoke, cherry and blackberry. Subtle on the palate from the attack, then immediately sappy and highly aromatic, the wine evolves with an ultra-caressing feel, on a dense yet airy texture. It soars on the finish—long, noble, complex and profound. A marvel you won’t want to spit. Don’t wait to taste it.