Chateau Palmer 2022

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart nach Edelholz und Nugat, schwarze Waldbeeren, reife Zwetschken, attraktive Frucht, etwas Veilchen, einladendes Bukett. Kraftvoll, reife dunkle Beerenfucht, feine Extraktsüße, präsente, tragende Tannine, gute Frische, zeigt einen kühlen Abgang, extraktsüßer Nachhall, bleibt minutenlang haften, nahe an der Perfektion."

JAMES SUCKLING: "So much class in the nose with a sophisticated kaleidoscope of dark fruit such as blackcurrants, and spices such as salt and pepper, as well as cloves and nutmeg. Full-bodied. Compacted and dense yet weightless. It opens beautifully. The tannins go on and on with wonderful presence. Salty undertones."

WEINWISSER: "45 % Merlot, 51 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 4 % Petit Verdot, 22 hl/ha. Was für ein verführerisches Parfüm: frisch gepflückte Alpenheidelbeere, Lakritze, satter Veilchenstrauß, Herzkirschensaft und edle Cassiswürze. Am sublimen Gaumen mit einer Textur wie Samt und Seide, dazu ein kakaoartiges Tanningerüst, tänzerische Rasse und ein perfekt geformter Körper. Im konzentrierten langanhaltenden Finale blaubeerige Konturen, tiefschürfende Terroirwürze und erhabene Adstringenz. Ganz nah an der Perfektion. Ein Mysterium – wie er in einem so außergewöhnlichen und doch herausfordernden Jahr so gut gelungen ist! 2030 – 2055."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2022 Château Palmer is utterly brilliant, so much so that I questioned in my notes if this would challenge the 2018. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, from tiny yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare, its mammoth-sized personality offers layers of blue and black fruits, notes of melted chocolate, crushed stone, and spring flowers, building, velvety tannins, and a great, great finish. While many estates commented that they extracted less in the vintage, Palmer went in a different direction and extracted more during the vinifications to provide a solid backbone to match the concentration and power of the vintage. It appears to have worked brilliantly, and hats off to Thomas Duroux for having the confidence to go his own path. He has produced a truly Grand Vin in 2022. The alcohol here is a normal 14.4%, and the pH is a healthy 3.79."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "With a dark, radiating purple, black hue, the wine explodes from the glass with its bouquet of lilacs, violets, roses, white flowers, cinnamon, and clove perfume. The wine is pure silk in texture, blending its salty, minerality with sweetness in the black and red fruits. But here, it its the texture, length, and purity in the fruits that stand out. The elegant, sensuous finish moves from red to black to red, with a refreshing mint note that holds your focus for over 50 seconds. The wine blends 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. 14.4% ABV, 3.79 Ph. The harvest took place September 7 - October 5, making this one of the longer harvests at Palmer. Yields are a scant 22 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2027-2065."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: „Composed of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Palmer is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a lot of shaking and swirling to lure out a soft-spoken perfume of roses, lavender, star anise, and cloves, leading to a profound core of Morello cherries, fresh, juicy blackberries, and blackcurrant cordial. The full-bodied palate is stacked with layer upon layer of black, blue, and red fruits, supported by a skyscraper structure of very firm, very ripe, grainy tannins and superb tension, finishing with epic length and depth. This is a monumental achievement. pH 3.79."

VINUM: "Zurückhaltend, aber unglaublich komplex, Veilchen, Blüten, Kräuter; erstaunlich schlanker Auftakt, grosse Dichte und Tiefe, verblüffende Mineralität der Tannine, grosse Länge, absolute Präzision- die ganz grosse Klasse."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "As is the case at neighbor Château Margaux, the 2022 Palmer is one of the most powerful wines this estate has ever produced. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, it offers up aromas of blackberries, burning embers, violets, iris and sweet soil tones, followed by a full-bodied, broad and expansive palate, its velvety attack segueing into a rich and layered core. Supple, seamless and concentrated, it checks in at 14.4% alcohol and a rather high pH of 3.79."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Crimson hue. Genuine expression of fruit. Touch of spicy complexity. Dense but lots of vitality and energy. Beautiful texture with tannins that drive the wine. Great definition. Long on the finish."