Château Palmer 2011

An iconic Margaux wine with character and power magnified over time

The estate

Château Palmer is a real star of the Margaux appellation, on the left bank of the Bordeaux region. Having first introduced biodynamic techniques in 2009, Château Palmer has chosen to convert the entire vineyard in 2014. After building its reputation on vintages that have become legendary, Château Palmer continues to write its history under the direction of the talented Thomas Duroux.

The vineyard

Benefiting from an exceptional terroir located in the immediate vicinity of the Gironde estuary, Château Palmer has an unusual grape variety ratio for the Médoc, giving pride of place to Merlot (47%), which appears alongside Cabernet Sauvignon in equal proportions (47%) as well as Petit Verdot (6%).

The wine

"I never drink the Grands Crus Classés which form the majority of my cellar before ten years of age. It's a matter of principle" (Émile Peynaud). This quote from the illustrious father of modern oenology provides a major point of reference for the best time to taste a Grand Cru de Bordeaux.

Since 2010, half of the production of Château Palmer has been carefully preserved in the cellars of the property. It is over the years that these great wines from the Margaux appellation have patiently developed their character as well as their aromatic palette.

With its 10 Years On collection, Château Palmer creates a meeting place for those who love Bordeaux fine wines. Every fourth Thursday in September, the N-10 vintage of the property's Grand Vin will be marketed.

Forever in the search for innovation, Château Palmer adorns its bottles with a QR code, offering an immersive journey through the life cycle of the vintage and the unique universe of Palmer.

The vintage

The earliest vintage of the 2000s, 2011 began with a particularly hot and dry spring, favouring very early bud burst and flowering from May 10th. Accentuated by low rainfall, water stress resulted in a few drips on the oldest plots of Merlot. The hailstorm of June 4 strongly impacted the vineyard and its quantitative potential. A very dry period followed until July 14, which again reduced yields. The drop in temperatures from mid-July combined with beneficial rains allowed the vineyard to continue to develop. The veraison took place in very good conditions. From the end of August, conditions of great leniency were recorded, including during the harvest, which began on September 7 with the earliest Merlot. Despite low yields, this 2011 vintage resulted in a wine whose straight-forward acidity mixed with concentrated tannins and great precision guarantee an exceptional ageing potential.

Vinification and ageing

Fermentation was carried out with spontaneous yeasts. Extractions were very smooth in order to preserve the delicacy of the tannins. Ageing in barrels, 50% new, lasted 21 months.

The blend

The Château Palmer 2011 is made from a blend of Merlot (55%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (45%).

The tasting

Nose

Powerful and complex, the nose blends fragrances of spices, pepper and black fruits with notes of precious wood, elderberry and cedar.

Palate

Full and structured, the palate seduces with its beautiful acidity, precise tannins and a velvety texture signifying the unique style of the property. The persistent finish reveals exceptional freshness for such a young wine.

Keeping

Accessible now, this Château Palmer 2011 can age in the cellar until 2045-2050.