2011 Palmer
By Chateau Palmer
2011 Palmer from Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
The 2011 vintage in Bordeaux stands out for its early harvest due to an unseasonably warm spring, followed by a challenging summer. Amidst these irregular climatic conditions, Château Palmer triumphed, crafting a 2011 Palmer that deftly exhibits the resilience and dexterity of their team and terroir.
A Study in Grace Under Pressure
The vicissitudes of the 2011 season could have easily led lesser estates astray, yet Château Palmer navigated this capricious climate with aplomb. The result is a blend that speaks to the essence of Margaux—structure balanced by elegance. It features the classic Margaux fragrance of ripe berries and violets, supported on the palate by sophisticated tannins that promise ample longevity—a vital consideration for wine investors.
Nuanced Expression Reflecting a Singular Vintage
This vintage did not yield opulent fruit like its predecessors; rather, it brought forth a 2011 Palmer defined by restraint and subtlety. The nose conjures whispers of tobacco and anise amidst blackcurrant notes, while the palate unfolds with a complex layering of dark fruits edged with herbal and graphite nuances. The finish is persistent and highlights the carefully calibrated oak influence which never overshadows the wine’s intrinsic character.
In summary, the 2011 Palmer is a testament to the artfulness with which Château Palmer can transcend challenging vintages. It's an intricate yet bold composition that has matured into a compelling investment-grade wine. Its profile brings together disparate elements—a mirror to its seminal year—and it showcases an equilibrium that few wines from this unconventional vintage have managed to achieve.
Connoisseur's Conclusion
Cultivators of fine wine portfolios would be remiss to overlook the distinct attributes of this 2011 Palmer from Château Palmer. As it continues to evolve and unfurl within the bottle's confines, its story grows ever richer—a narrative woven not only of grape and earth but of time's own relentless passage. This remarkable harvest is poised to serve not just as a beacon for discerning palates but as an articulate chronicle of 2011 in Bordeaux’s esteemed Margaux appellation.
Market price (USD)
$2,640.00
12x75cl
Highest score
96
POP score
135
Scores and tasting notes
The opaque blue/purple-colored 2011 Palmer reveals a stunning bouquet of licorice, truffles, camphor, spring flowers, black raspberries and black currants. One of the superstars of the vintage, this brilliant 2011 possesses superb concentration and purity, medium to full body, and remarkable length of close to a minute. A tour de force in winemaking, the Palmer team merits accolades for achieving this level of quality in a more challenging vintage than either 2009 or 2010. The “wine of the vintage” in Margaux, tiny yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare, a final blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a severe selection (only 55% of the production made it into Palmer) are the reasons for this success. Winemaker Thomas Duroux continues to fine tune this already brilliant estate, producing first-growth quality wines year after year.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 April 2014
The opaque blue/purple-colored 2011 Palmer reveals a stunning bouquet of licorice, truffles, camphor, spring flowers, black raspberries and black currants. One of the superstars of the vintage, this brilliant 2011 possesses superb concentration and purity, medium to full body, and remarkable length of close to a minute. A tour de force in winemaking, the Palmer team merits accolades for achieving this level of quality in a more challenging vintage than either 2009 or 2010. The “wine of the vintage” in Margaux, tiny yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare, a final blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a severe selection (only 55% of the production made it into Palmer) are the reasons for this success.
Winemaker Thomas Duroux continues to fine tune this already brilliant estate, producing first-growth quality wines year after year.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #212 Apr 2014
A wine with currants and mineral character on the nose and palate. It's full-bodied, with silky, polished tannins and a long finish. Very tight and refined now. Tannic. Palmer only made 20 hectoliters of wine a hectare. Like a tightly wound ball of cashmere thread. Try in 2020.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, January 28th 2014
The 2011 Palmer has a ripe sweet bouquet of black cherries, blueberry, a touch of iodine and crushed violets, flamboyant as usual. There is a hint of cough candy that develops with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm grip. There is a carapace of toasty tannins underneath which lies a core of dense black fruit, although it does not have the same degree of finesse on the finish as say, Rauzan Segla. This is quite a serious Margaux, one that probably deserves longer ageing than others to allow those brusque, rigid tannins to soften. Tasted April 2012.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2012