Château Palmer – 2018 Palmer

Château Palmer – 2018 Palmer.

A Margaux of breathtaking depth and elegance, uniting sensual texture with architectural precision.

In the heart of Margaux, where elegance meets intensity, Château Palmer stands as one of Bordeaux’s most poetic estates—crafting wines that balance power with precision, sensuality with structure. The 2018 vintage, born from a year of extremes, is a testament to resilience and mastery—a wine that glows with the spirit of its terroir and the artistry of those who tend it.

About the Region

The Margaux appellation, located at the southern end of the Médoc, is often described as the most graceful of Bordeaux’s Left Bank regions. Spanning over 1,400 hectares across five communes, Margaux is a mosaic of gravelly soils interlaced with clay and limestone. These free-draining, heat-retentive gravels—shaped by centuries of alluvial deposits from the Gironde estuary—form the foundation of some of Bordeaux’s most aromatic and refined wines.

Margaux is distinguished by its diversity of terroirs. While its northern neighbors Pauillac and Saint-Julien tend to produce firmer, more structured wines, Margaux is defined by perfume and finesse. Its wines are often characterized by an expressive bouquet—violets, cassis, cedar, and spice—and a palate that emphasizes silkiness over sheer weight. This combination of aromatic lift and supple texture has made Margaux a benchmark for elegance within the Médoc.

The climate plays a crucial role as well. Benefiting from both the maritime influence of the Gironde and a slightly warmer microclimate than the northern Médoc, Margaux experiences steady ripening with fewer extremes. The result is fruit that achieves maturity while retaining vibrancy and freshness.

Among Margaux’s most revered names—Château Margaux, Rauzan-Ségla, and Brane-Cantenac—Château Palmer occupies a special place. Often described as a “modern classic,” Palmer bridges the gap between traditional Left Bank structure and Right Bank opulence, producing wines that are at once profound and emotionally evocative.

About the Winery

Château Palmer, a 3rd Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 Classification, has long transcended its official rank. Since the 19th century, this estate has been synonymous with refinement, producing wines that often rival or surpass its higher-classed neighbors. Its 66 hectares of vines lie on the gravely terraces of Margaux, where deep gravel soils mixed with clay allow for both structure and sensuality—two hallmarks of Palmer’s house style.

The estate’s history is as layered as its wines. Founded by British Major Charles Palmer in 1814, the château later evolved under a series of dedicated owners who shaped its modern identity. In recent decades, under the direction of Thomas Duroux (formerly of Ornellaia), Château Palmer has embraced biodynamic viticulture, achieving full certification in 2017. This approach, rooted in balance and respect for natural cycles, brings a vivid purity and textural finesse to every vintage.

Palmer’s vineyard composition—47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot—is unusual for Margaux, where Cabernet typically dominates. This balance lends the wines their trademark lushness and perfume, often described as the bridge between Left Bank structure and Right Bank richness.

About the Vintage

The 2018 growing season in Bordeaux was a year of drama and redemption. After a wet and challenging spring threatened mildew and reduced yields, a long, hot, and dry summer followed, providing near-perfect ripening conditions. For biodynamic estates like Palmer, the early part of the season was especially testing—but those who persevered were rewarded with small, intensely concentrated berries that delivered wines of remarkable power and harmony.

Due to severe mildew pressure, Château Palmer’s yields were significantly lower than usual—just over 11 hectoliters per hectare. This drastic reduction resulted in an extraordinary concentration of flavor and a wine that stands as one of the most profound expressions of the estate in recent memory.

About the Wine

The 2018 Château Palmer is a masterclass in sensuality and precision. A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot, it was aged for 21 months in 65% new French oak, balancing opulence with finesse.

In the glass, the wine shimmers with a deep garnet-purple hue, hinting at the richness to come. The nose is utterly captivating—layered aromas of black cherry, cassis, and plum compote intertwine with notes of violets, sandalwood, graphite, and truffle. Subtle hints of dark chocolate, cedar, and wild herbs add further intrigue, evolving beautifully with air.

The palate is luxurious yet finely poised, combining the density of the vintage with the trademark silkiness of Palmer. A wave of black fruits—blackberry, blueberry, and ripe plum—flows effortlessly across the tongue, framed by polished tannins and a vibrant core of freshness. The mid-palate reveals layers of spice, cigar box, and crushed rock, underscoring the mineral tension that defines great Margaux wines.

Despite its concentration, there is no heaviness. The texture is velvety and seamless, leading into an extraordinarily long finish—perfumed, savory, and endlessly complex. Every element feels perfectly proportioned, the result of meticulous craftsmanship and deep understanding of the vineyard’s rhythm.

Conclusion

The 2018 Château Palmer stands among the finest wines ever produced at this iconic estate. It captures the essence of Margaux—floral, supple, and seductive—while carrying the depth and gravitas of a truly great Bordeaux vintage. This is a wine that will age gracefully for decades, yet already displays a magnetic allure in its youth.

We proudly award the 2018 Palmer a 98-point DWA Score—a transcendent Margaux that blends emotion with precision, reminding us why Château Palmer continues to define modern Bordeaux elegance.

This review is written by our own Niels Aarts. We tasted this bottle during one of our private Bordeaux tastings (with thanks to Wouter Dijkink for bringing it), where Palmer once again proved that true greatness lies not only in classification but in character.

Taste Date:     October 2025

Website:         Château Palmer