2003 Palmer
By Chateau Palmer
2003 Palmer from Chateau Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
The year 2003 brought forth one of the most challenging and anomalous vintages in Bordeaux due to an unprecedented heatwave, yet it is precisely these aberrant conditions that sculpted the extraordinary and compelling profile of the 2003 Palmer from Chateau Palmer. It stands today as a testament to resilience and deft winemaking amidst climatic extremes.
An Exceptional Vintage Amidst Adversity
The gavel fell on this challenging season with initial scepticism turned to fascination as the wines evolved. The 2003 Palmer, born from this crucible, carries the hallmarks of concentration and a taut robustness that defies the expected outcomes from such sweltering summer conditions. This vintage for Chateau Palmer is emblematic of their ability to transcend expectations through meticulous vineyard management and tailored vinification techniques.
Meticulous Crafting Meets Investment Potential
The 2003 vintage has undoubtedly paved its way into the cellars of discerning fine wine investors. Within this rare category, the 2003 Palmer garners attention for its sheer intensity and structure - firm tannins and a balanced acidity which signal a wine poised for long-term ageing potential. This is further heightened by Chateau Palmer's continuous ascendancy in global stature, reinforcing why strategic acquisitions of such singular vintages remain a prudent investment endeavour.
Favoured by enthusiasts seeking wines with the character to both thrill and endure, the 2003 Palmer remains one of Margaux's modern-day marvels. Its dark fruit core laced with tobacco and cedar whispers stories of that sunbaked summer while promising more chapters to come with graceful maturation.
In Summary: A Haven for Connoisseurs and Investors Alike
In retrospect, that fiery summer has birthed a Margaux that intrigues connoisseurs with its formidable expression and sings to investors with its appreciative potential. Investing in a bottle of 2003 Palmer encapsulates not just a slice of Bordeaux's history but also an opportunity to own an exquisite artefact from Chateau Palmer's prestigious lineage. It is, undeniably, one of the region’s most remarkable feats given the circumstances of its inception.
Market price (GBP)
£2,310.00
12x75cl
Highest score
91
POP score
210
Scores and tasting notes
So much milk chocolate and dark fruits on the nose. Full-bodied, with chewy, almost dusty tannins. Some might call it a little coarse on the palate. It needs some more time, but turns to loads of milk chocolate on the finish. Pull the cork in 2013.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, May 29th 2012
This estate's grand vin and second wine have both benefited immensely from stricter selections. The 2003 vintage's heat and drought stressed this vineyard's light soils, resulting in an atypical Palmer. The 2003 Palmer possesses a dark ruby/purple color, high, austere tannins, less flesh and mid-palate than usual, medium body, and a flowery black currant-scented bouquet. It lacks the extra dimension required aromatically, texturally, and flavor-wise to achieve their normal quality level. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #164 April 2006
Tasted at Bordeaux Index's '10-Year On' tasting in London. I have never been a fan of this vintage for one of the appellations greatest estates and time is not benefitting it at all. The Palmer '03 is showing a slight over-ripeness on the nose: mulberry, prune, raisin and earthy aromas. It just feels a little flat. The palate is medium-bodied with very ripe, grainy fruit. The acidity is low and the wine is missing tension and structure towards the finish. It just seems a little simplistic. This seems to be fading. Tasted March 2013.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2013
Tasted at the Château Palmer vertical in London, the magnum of 2003 Château Palmer is clearly more advanced in colour than the 2000. It is missing a little fruit intensity on the nose: warm gravel and dried flowers make the first impression, a touch of truffle with time. The palate is medium-bodied with cassis and liquorice on the entry, plenty of glycerine, but nowhere near the tension or complexity of 2000, 2005 or 2010. Viscous and generous on the finish, this is a serviceable Palmer, but one that was clearly compromised by that infamous summer that favored the more clayey soils further north in the Médoc. Tasted May 2015.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 29 May 2016