Château Palmer 10 Years On 2015

Characteristics and Tasting Advice for Château Palmer 10 Years On 2015

Tasting

This vintage entices with its concentrated, fruity Nose and its Palate, whose silky texture and freshness harmonize with delicate tannins and delicious spicy aromas.

A Great Margaux Wine Combining Freshness and Concentration

The Estate

The Château Palmer stands as an emblematic figure of the Margaux appellation on Bordeaux’s Left Bank. Committed to biodynamics since 2009, it completed the full conversion of its vineyard in 2014. After earning its reputation with legendary vintages, the estate continues its journey under the inspired leadership of Thomas Duroux.

The Vineyard

A benchmark among the great Margaux wines, Château Palmer benefits from exceptional terroir, very close to the Gironde estuary. Its uniqueness lies in an uncommon Médoc grape variety distribution: here Merlot is just as prominent as Cabernet Sauvignon, both complemented by a touch of Petit Verdot.

The Wine

“I never drink the Grands Crus Classés that make up the majority of my cellar before they are ten years old. It’s a principle.” – Émile Peynaud.

This maxim from the father of modern oenology sets the ideal reference point to appreciate a Bordeaux Grand Cru. Since 2010, Château Palmer has reserved half of its production in its own cellars. Over the years, these Margaux crus fully express their personality and aromatic palette. With the “10 Years On” collection, the estate has created an event for all Bordeaux grand wine enthusiasts: every fourth Thursday of September, the N-10 cuvée of the Grand Vin is released to the market. Always in search of innovation, Château Palmer incorporates a QR code on its bottles, inviting one on an immersive journey through the vintage’s life cycle and the estate’s unique universe.

The Vintage

The 2015 vegetative cycle began under fairly dry conditions, offering steady growth and ideal flowering. Post-flowering rains favored berry development, then late-June heat accelerated ripening (thickening of skins, tannin concentration, and rapid seed evolution). In late July, moderate rains reignited véraison and allowed the grapes to reach normal size. In September, very favorable conditions led to harvests beginning on September 22 for the Merlots, followed by the Cabernet Sauvignons and Petit Verdots until October 7. Despite the high alcohol level, the dense tannic structure and perfect phenolic maturity ensure remarkable balance, placing 2015 among the great recent vintages (2010, 2009, 2005).

Winemaking and Aging

The wine is aged for 22 months in barrels, 60% of which are new.

Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (50%)
Merlot (44%)
Petit Verdot (6%).