Château Palmer 2016

This is a very solid rendering, with a core of steeped blackberry, black currant and fig flavors that are juicy and well-defined. The back end picks up lots of graphite, tobacco, anise and violet notes while maintaining focus and energy. Shows latent depth as the fruit echoes steadily. Best from 2023 through 2038.

As is always the case with Palmer, the richness, depth and silkiness is just so impressive. Sophisticated and well constructed, with a vertical lift-off, there's a creamy richness on the palate which supports pencil-lead, liquorice, damson, black cherry and slate. I love the smoky cocoa bean finish. Like the Alter Ego, it's a different style this year but no less impressive, displaying width, heft and incredible persistency. It's a wine that's going to age far into the future and is extremely easy to recommend. The highest ever proportion of grand vin was produced in 2016. Stocked by Winebuyers.com

Tar, smoke, dark chocolate, dark berries, tobacco, and earth on the nose. Precise, focused tannins and dark fruit on the palate. Compact yet expressive, showing attractive harmony. Layered and persistent. Approachable with some aeration, but will benefit from continued aging. Drink or hold. 10 Years On retrospective.

Still showing the color of a barrel sample, the wine is full-bodied, silky, polished, fresh, vibrant, and pure. It tastes as if you ran into the vineyard, grabbed a handful of grapes off the vine, and ate them just moments before they were crushed. The fruit has so much purity, energy, and sensuality that it’s impossible not to resist going back to the glass for another sniff, swirl, and sip. Another interesting point is the addition of a gentle, chalky minerality on the finish, adding a beautiful layer to the complexity. This is easily one of the great vintages of Chateau Palmer and will age for decades with no effort.

Intense dark ruby, opaque core, subtle brightening on the rim. Multi-faceted bouquet with delicate candied violet notes, liquorice, forest fruits, blackberry and fresh orange zest. Complex and tightly meshed on the palate with sweetly ripe fruit, fine nougat and powerful tannins that will ensure excellent ageing potential.

Intense and layered nose with discreet hints of wood, butterscotch, coffee and mocha with ripe fruit like darker cassis and cherry notes with wild berry fruit, tobacco and a mild spiciness. Dense yet silky palate with lovely flavour intensity, crushed berries, tobacco, fine wood and cocoa powder-like tannins with a very long, bright and sustained finish.

The finest vintage I’ve ever tasted from this estate, surpassing the 2009 and 2010, the 2016 Château Palmer is a blend of 47% each of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance Petit Verdot, all of which was brought up in 65% new French oak. This magical effort reveals a saturated purple color as well as a huge nose of crème de cassis, graphite, crushed rocks, and spring flowers, and it develops beautifully with time in the glass. Full-bodied, deep, incredibly concentrated and powerful, it nevertheless just glides over the palate with flawless purity and balance, present, ripe tannins, and a finish that just won’t quit. This is Bordeaux at its most regal and classic. It will be drinkable with just 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for half a century.

47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, (only) 29 hl/ha, harvest from October 3 to 18, 65% Grand Vin. Deep purple with garnet highlights at the rim. Concentrated black-fruit bouquet with blackberry and cassis, followed by violet and iris. On the palate, a creamy texture and caressing tannins, plenty of cassis candy and blueberry purée on the back palate—what elegance and finesse! In the slingshot-like finish, again blueberry, sour cherry juice, and licorice. Pure finesse! Thomas prefers this style and I can only agree; therefore, this Palmer in a classic style is also my favorite in the Margaux appellation!

Kunz barrel sample 17: (47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 29 hl/ha, 65% Grand Vin) Concentrated, velvety, complex, sweet bouquet: cassis, black blackberries, Amarena cherries, tobacco, pralines, subtle eucalyptus, dried fruits, truffle, licorice. Concentrated, multi-layered, velvety, finely opulent palate with a creamy, dense structure, powerful, sweet fruit, varied, sweet aromatics, plenty of fine tannins, a very long, aromatic, dense finish with many sweet afterflavors. Has room to improve.

(47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 29 hl/ha, 65% Grand Vin) Concentrated, velvety, complex, sweet bouquet: cassis, black blackberry, Amarena cherries, tobacco, praline, a hint of eucalyptus, dried fruits, truffle, licorice. Concentrated, layered, velvety palate with fine opulence, a creamy, dense structure, powerful, sweet fruit, varied sweet aromatics, plenty of fine tannins, a very long, aromatic, dense finish with many sweet echoes. Can improve further. 19/20 2024 - 2055

Love the rosebud and peony character, very much majoring on a floral-strewed openier, liquorice bud, cassis, bilberry, cigar box, dried cranberry and elderflower, graphite and gunsmoke, concentrated and powerful, full of appellation and estate signature. 60% new oak.

The nose of the 2016 evokes ripe black fruits. You can sense the richness, density, and concentration. On the palate, it is tight, intense, but above all marked by remarkable energy. A muscular wine to be awaited patiently.

Garnet red with purple highlights. What a bouquet! Intense and complex, with beautiful notes of blackcurrant, blueberries, and spices. Refreshing peppermint notes and a superb expression of Cabernet Sauvignon, shining at full maturity. An elegant, highly expressive attack. On the palate, the wine reflects the aromatic profile, especially its freshness. Added to this are elements tied to the tannic structure and acidity. The tannins are very fine-grained, lending a suave touch as well as power across the palate. I believe Palmer 2016 still has a thousand and one stories to tell us, and I think its score is likely to evolve—upwards, of course.

Logo on the cork: DF Dark, intense color, showing some development at the rim and still bright in the core. Very aromatic nose with ripe fruit. A hint of caramel. The palate is smooth and flavorful, slender and sappy. A touch of oak on the finish, but with a lovely taste. Less defined than the day before.

Tasted blind. Very dark crimson. Lift and interest on the nose. Smooth palate and lots of creamy appeal. Masses tucked in here. (JR)

Deep garnet in color, with a touch of purple, the 2016 Palmer takes a minute or two to unleash a powerful nose of black cherry compote, prunes, crème de cassis, and chocolate-covered cherries, followed by hints of licorice, crushed rocks, candied violets, and black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is dense, concentrated and totally seductive, featuring super-ripe, velvety tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing long with loads of floral and earthy sparks. The blend is 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot.

Powerful tannins and hugely rich fruit balance together in this superb wine. The velvet texture belies the power behind the concentrated, ripe black-fruit flavor, with vibrant acidity giving ample lift. The wine's structure will ensure aging for many years. Drink from 2024.