2012 Palmer
By Chateau Palmer
2012 Palmer from Chateau Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux
The esteemed 2012 Palmer from Chateau Palmer signifies a triumph amidst the challenges that the vintage posed in the Bordeaux region. The year's capricious climate demanded exacting attention to detail and unyielding commitment to quality, which the team at Chateau Palmer navigated with commendable skill and finesse.
Intuition Meets Expertise: Crafting Elegance against Odds
A vintage marred by an erratic growing season, 2012 saw its share of difficulties from bud break to harvest. Yet it is these very hardships that have sculpted the nuances and idiosyncrasies of the 2012 Palmer. In tasting, one uncovers layers of complexity - a testament to the meticulous vineyard management and tailored vinification processes this remarkable chateau consistently delivers.
The Quintessence of Margaux: A Narrative in a Bottle
The 2012 expression exudes classic Margaux elegance, boasting a bouquet rich in dark cherries and floral notes punctuated by an undertone of earthiness. On the palate, it enchants with well-integrated tannins draped over a delicate balance of fruit and structure – all interplaying to create a symphony of sophistication that resonates with the promise of longevity in one's collection. In its current state, the 2012 Palmer reveals enough opulence for immediate gratification yet holds concealments that only time will artfully unveil.
Investors seeking to diversify their portfolios would do well to consider the 2012 Palmer as an expression not just of terroir, but of resilience and adaptability - qualities emblematic of fine wine investment bulwarks. This vintage embodies Chateau Palmer's revered heritage while heralding its adaptive prowess in winemaking.
As an oenophile who has observed and commended countless vintages, the 2012 stands as a narrative within a bottle – one that speaks of battles with nature and the consequent victory of human ingenuity and passion for the vine. Connoisseurs will find much to ponder and delight in as this chapter from Chateau Palmer continues to unfold in the glass.
Market price (USD)
$2,690.00
12x75cl
Highest score
96
POP score
138.13
Scores and tasting notes
A wine with a vertical palate for the vintage. Deep and rich with polished tannins, beautiful fruit. Layered and very long. Blueberries, hazelnut, cedar and a mineral, creamy character. Fabulous for the vintage.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, November 14th 2013
Château Palmer is one of the vintage’s superstars. Opaque purple, with a gorgeous nose of blueberry, blackberry fruit, licorice, incense and graphite, the wine has a multi-dimensional, skyscraper-like richness, stunningly well-integrated acidity, tannin, wood, and alcohol, a finish of close to 45 seconds and a full-bodied mouthfeel. This is a great wine from Margaux in 2012 and one of the vintage’s most remarkable efforts. Anticipated maturity: 2022-2040+. The final blend was 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 April 2015
The 2012 Palmer's inky/purple color is more saturated than most Margaux's, and it offers complex notes of blackberries, cassis, licorice, truffle and spring flowers. The wine is dense, rich and full-bodied with a muscular appeal, but the tannins, as high as they are, are sweet and well-integrated. None of the new oak used during the wine's upbringing is noticeable. Interestingly, this wine showed no evidence of dilution from the October 7-9 rainfall. I suspect it will require 3-4 years of cellaring, and should last for two decades. Thomas Duroux produced a brilliant 2012 Palmer that is unquestionably one of the stars of the vintage. High levels of tannin were up there with their best vintages, at least analytically. The final blend of 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot results in a style of wine that is totally different than that of its nearby neighbors, Chateau Margaux, Rauzan-Segla and Malescot St.-Exupery.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #206
Tasted from a barrel sample at en primeur. The Palmer was picked between 1st and 15th October at just 28hl/ha because of the previous vintage since the vines had been pruned back to four buds per vine. A blend of 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot, the Grand Vin is very opulent on the nose for the vintage, the merlot much more expressive than the Cabernet with nascent scents of crushed violet. The palate is medium-bodied with thick juicy tannins, a crisp citric line of acidity and a sense of weight and solidity on the tightly-coiled finish. This Palmer will probably need several years bottle age. Certainly a very good grip on the finish with a marine like aftertaste. Tasted April 2013.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2013