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Lea & Sandeman Wine Merchants

CHÂTEAU PALMER

2013 3ème Cru Classé Margaux

Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Haut Médoc
Village Margaux
Classification 3ème Cru Classé
ABV 13.5%

The use of new oak was also cut back in order to emphasize the fruit aspects of the wine. Consequently, the 2013 Palmer is an easygoing, fruit-forward, fresh, pure wine with no vegetal characteristics or astringent tannins. This opaque purple-colored, medium-bodied, plush 2013 preserves some of its Margaux typicity even in this tough vintage. Drink it over the next decade. Palmer’s administrator, Thomas Duroux, realized that 2013 was going to be a year requiring huge amounts of labor and a draconian-like selection. Only 3,800 cases of 2013 Palmer were produced from a blend of 49% Merlot and 51% Cabernet Sauvignon. 2014-2024 Rating: 87-88 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Aug 2014)


Alternatively, we may well have some bottles in one of our shops - why not give us a call on 0207 244 0522 or send an email to: sales@leaandsandeman.co.uk.

Or, check the RELATED PRODUCTS below for different vintages or wines of a similar style.


(51% cabernet sauvignon and 49% merlot; 33% selection for the grand vin; 25 hl/ha): Ruby-red; obviously much darker than the Alter Ego. Deep aromas of ripe black cherry, cedar and cocoa. Then rich, dense and suave on the palate, with an almost unctuous quality and terrific persistence to the pure blackcurrant, flint and floral flavors. Smoothly tannic and very pure, this is an absolutely memorable Palmer, especially in the context of the vintage. "A Palmer without merlot is not a Palmer," says Duroux, who chose not to eliminate too much of the merlot from the final blend; one gets the feeling all the dilute stuff went into the Alter Ego. Rating: 89-92 Ian d'Agata - Stephen Tanzer website (May 2014)

Rich on the nose there is depth a mix of black fruits on the start of the palate. The tannins are fine structured but not too obvious with the sweetness at the back balanced by red fruited freshness. The finish is fine long with elegance and charm. 2020-30 Rating: 91-94 Derek Smedley MW, www.dereksmedleymw.co.uk (May 2014)

There was no Petit Verdot in 2013 (the blend was 49% Merlot and 51% Cabernet Sauvignon), but this is still an impressive, deeply coloured Palmer made in a classic Margaux style. Spicy, medium weight and silkily tannin with subtle black fruits and fresh acidity. 2018-28 Rating: 94 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (May 2014)

Château Palmer

Margaux Troisième cru 1855 What is now Château Palmer was originally part of a larger Château d'Issan but was divided among heirs and came into the ownership of the Gascq family in 1748. The widow of the last of the Gascqs, in 1814, and apparently having met him on a stagecoach, sold the estate to an Englishman, General Charles Palmer, and Château de Gascq became Château Palmer. He extended the estate and built quite a reputation for his wines (especially in London) but financial difficulties forced him to sell up in 1843 and, by the time of the 1855 classification, the reputation of Château Palmer had slipped sufficiently to rate "only" 3rd Growth status - a status it has exceded for most of its subsequent history. The present château was built at the end of the 1850's. In 1938 the Société Civile de Château Palmer was formed to take ownership of the estate, with the Sichel and Mähler-Besse families as leading shareholders, a situation which persists to this day. Château Palmer sits between Margaux and Cantenac, just east of Issan. The 55ha of vines are planted to 47% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with the balance being Petit Verdot. The Grand Vin spends 21 months in wood (45% new). The second wine is Alter Ego de Château Palmer. In the best years of General Palmer's reign, the wines of Château Palmer were regarded on a par with those of Château Margaux and, indeed, during the worst years of the 1960's Palmer probably had a better reputation. Today, despite huge improvements by its neighbours, Palmer sits very squarely as the leading Margaux estate that isn't actually Château Margaux.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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RELATED PRODUCTS

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