Chateau Palmer 2017

JAMES SUCKLING: "Very perfumed and subtle with dried flowers and citrus, as well as blue fruit. Full-bodied with wonderfully diffused, integrated tannins that just run over the edges of the wine. It’s extremely polished and very, very long. Fresh and bright. Energetic finish. A thoughtful wine. A blend of 54% merlot, 42% cabernet sauvignon and 4% petit verdot. Drink after 2023."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A blend of 54% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored, 2017 Palmer gives a very serious nose of pronounced blackcurrant cordial, warm plums and blackberry preserves with hints of cedar chest, pencil shavings, violets, dark chocolate and star anise plus exotic wafts of sandalwood and cassia. Medium-bodied, the palate features fantastically vibrant, crunchy black fruits with a firm texture of ripe, grainy tannins and tons of freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. It will need a good 5-7 years to really blossom with all those tightly wound nuances, but it should be a stunner!"

WEINWISSER: "Dunkles Rubinrot mit dichtem Rand. Herrlich komplexes und sehr elegantes Bouquet mit roter Kirschfrucht, hellem Tabak, reifen Himbeeren und blauen Schattierungen, sowohl als Frucht als auch im floralen Bereich. Die 54 % Merlot machen sich bemerkbar. Erst dahinter mit Cassis und Cabernet- Noten. Am Gaumen hochelegant und mit beeindruckender Balance, meisterhaft seidiger Textur und bereits abgerundeten, sehr präzisen Gerbstoffen. Im finessenreichen Finale kommt dann noch mal die volle blaubeerige, floral unterlegte Verführung; fantastischer Wein. Dürfte in einigen Jahren eine Versuchung wert sein."

DECANTER: "Beautifully powerful and precise with great depth and character to the fruit, despite the austerity that is more evident now than it was during En Primeur as the wine has begun bed down. These tannins are finely boned but they are plentiful, providing strength in numbers. Bottled end of August after 21 months of ageing. Clearly going to age well, this has concentration, intensity and seriousness where the Alter Ego is more gourmet. A precise and intellectual Palmer, a very fine example of the wine, with a sense of place and a purity to the fruit expression. Drinking Window 2024 - 2048"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Flowers, exotic spice, black cherry, plum and licorice are announced as soon as the wine the hits the glass. Sensuous, sexy, silky and finesse driven, the red and dark fruits express a purity from start to finish. Give it five to ten years to gain softness and nuance. The wine was made from 54% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. The harvest took place September 20 to September 29 and the wine reached 13.2% with a pH 3.75. Fifty-five percent of the harvest was used to produce the Grand Vin and 15 hectares of vines, which normally go into Alter Ego were damaged by the frost."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The grand vin 2017 Chateau Palmer checks in as 54% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Petit Verdot brought up in 60% new French oak. This deep purple-colored beauty gives up more cassis fruits as well as hints of chocolate, graphite, smoked herbs, and crushed violets. Beautifully concentrated, rich, and full-bodied, it has a wonderful sense of elegance and purity, laser-like precision, building tannins, and a great finish. Give bottles a solid 7-8 years and it's going to evolve for 25-30 years or more."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Fruit and supple tannins mingle in this balanced, classic wine. Black-currant flavors are lifted by the energetic acidity and the freshness of the crisp texture. This wine will develop easily, giving pleasure all the way. Drink from 2023."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Dark and winey in feel, with ample blackberry, plum and black currant compote flavors leading the way, while licorice snap, singed apple wood, black tea and dark earth notes fill in throughout. The finish is focused, showing a nice buried iron accent. A powerful version of Margaux and a strong effort in the vintage. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2038."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Black core. A little smoky and reduced, more closed/restrained than the Alter Ego. Tannins are firm but so fluid. The tannins are somehow deceptive, they seem so velvety. Very fresh, subtle and extremely persistent. Incredibly pure, and very long. So fluid (though I have to be careful because apparently fluide in French means 'dilute') and incredibly elegant."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, rauchig, intensive Kräuterteenuancen, schwarze Beerenfrucht, wirkt noch etwas unzugänglich, ein Hauch von Velour unterlegt. Mittlerer Körper, feine Brombeerfrucht, präsente Tannine, die noch etwas fordernd wirken, rote Kirschen im Abgang, frischer Säurebogen, Ribisel im Nachhall, salziger Touch im Finale, in der Jugend noch relativ uncharmant, mineralischer, klassischer Stil."