Palmer 2016 (750ML)

98+ Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate: "The 2016 Palmer is a blend of 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot. Opaque garnet-purple colored, it slowly glides out of the glass with compelling notes of blueberry compote, warm cassis and kirsch with emerging hints of violets, cigar box, black tea, sandalwood and Sichuan pepper. Medium to full-bodied, wonderfully rich, concentrated and packed with latent energy, the palate literally grows in the mouth, revealing layer upon layer of black, blue and red fruits and tons of floral sparks, framed by super ripe, incredibly fine-grained tannins and finishing with epic length. It's a wine that makes you wanna drape yourself languidly over a chaise lounge, glass of Palmer in hand, sighing with deep satisfaction, "This is so wonderfully Palmer"." 11/18

97 Points, Neal Martin, Vinous: "The 2016 Palmer has an exquisite bouquet with gushing violet petals infusing the black fruit, very well defined, certainly one of the most opulent Left Bank wines. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins, sweet but never cloying, the acidity maintaining tension, with plenty of spice surging through on the finish. Superb. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year-On tasting in London." 02/26

98 Points, Jacobo García Andrade, James Suckling: "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." 02/26

100 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "Technical Director Thomas Duroux and his team made one of the most brilliant wines of the 2016 vintage. Palmer is simply exceptional. Rich and dramatically sweeping in the glass, the 2016 is breathtaking. All the elements simply fall into place in a wine of mesmerizing beauty. The counterpoint of dark, sumptuous fruit and floral notes makes for an utterly compelling Palmer that will take its place among the estate's finest vintages. Dark cherry, lavender, spice and mocha are some of the many notes that build into a deep, substantial finish that is truly unforgettable. In a word: magnificent!" 1/19

99 Points, Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux: "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." 02/26

100 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com: "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." 02/19

100 Points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast: "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." 05/19