Chateau Palmer

The estate takes its name from Major General Charles Palmer, a British officer who purchased the property in 1814 from the widow of the final Gascq heir. Palmer invested heavily in expanding and improving the vineyards before financial difficulties forced a sale. In 1938, a consortium of four Bordeaux negociant families acquired the estate. Today, two of those families remain as co-owners: the Sichels and the Mahler-Besses. Thomas Duroux, who previously worked at Ornellaia in Tuscany, was appointed managing director in 2004 and has led a quality revolution.

• Named after Major General Charles Palmer, who purchased the estate in 1814
• Consortium of four Bordeaux negociant families bought the property in 1938
• Sichel and Mahler-Besse families remain co-owners to this day
• Thomas Duroux brought experience from Ornellaia, Leoville Las Cases, and Mondavi before joining Palmer in 2004

Palmer's 55 hectares sit on gravelly soils in the communes of Margaux and Cantenac, with equal plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (47% each) plus 6% Petit Verdot. The estate made a complete transition to biodynamic farming between 2008 and 2013, becoming one of the most prominent Bordeaux chateaux to embrace this approach. The 2014 vintage was the first produced entirely under biodynamic practices, and official certification followed in 2017. Biodynamic preparations, cover crops, and natural pest management have replaced conventional chemical inputs.

• 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot across 55 hectares
• Full biodynamic transition completed 2008 to 2013; certified in 2017
• Gravelly Margaux terroir in the communes of Margaux and Cantenac
• Eric Boissenot serves as consulting oenologist

Palmer produces approximately 11,000 to 12,000 cases of the grand vin annually, alongside 7,000 to 8,000 cases of the second wine, Alter Ego de Palmer. The unusually high proportion of Merlot for a Margaux estate gives Palmer a distinctive voluptuous texture and aromatic complexity. Vinification emphasizes gentle extraction and precise temperature control, with aging in French oak barrels. The estate also produces a small quantity of Vin Blanc de Palmer from white grape varieties.

• Grand vin production: 11,000 to 12,000 cases annually
• Alter Ego de Palmer serves as the second wine (7,000 to 8,000 cases)
• Equal Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot proportions create a distinctive Margaux style
• Also produces a limited white wine, Vin Blanc de Palmer

Palmer is celebrated for combining the structural elegance of Margaux with unusual richness and aromatic complexity. The high Merlot proportion gives the wine a voluptuous, fleshy character rarely found in the appellation, while Cabernet Sauvignon provides classic Margaux structure and ageability. The wines are known for violet, dark berry, and exotic spice aromatics with a silky, layered palate.

• The 1961 is rated 100 points by Robert Parker, one of the greatest Bordeaux ever made
• Recent top vintages include 2009, 2015, 2016, and 2018, all scoring 98+ points from leading critics
• Aromatic profile features violets, dark berries, spice, and incense
• Best vintages age 30 to 50+ years

Though officially a Third Growth, Palmer has long been recognized as producing wine far above its classification. Liv-Ex ranks it at the top of the Second Growth category, and it regularly commands prices above many Second Growths. The 1961 vintage's perfect score cemented its reputation as one of Bordeaux's elite estates. Under Duroux's leadership and with biodynamic certification, Palmer's reputation continues to ascend.

• Liv-Ex ranks Palmer at the top of the Second Growth tier despite official Third Growth status
• Prices regularly exceed those of many classified Second Growths
• Pioneer of biodynamic viticulture among classified Bordeaux estates
• Widely considered among the top 10 to 15 wines produced in Bordeaux