Chateau Palmer2010
RED WINE
- Producer Chateau Palmer
-
Blend
40% Cabernet Sauvignon
54% Merlot
6% Petite Verdot - Country France
- Region Bordeaux
- Appellation Margaux
- UPC 0 15643 65306 3
Reviews
James Suckling 98
A purity of fruit here with plum and dark chocolate undertones. Spices and treacle tart as well. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a long, long finish. Very fine indeed. Fit, fruity and reserved. Superb.
by JS, James Suckling , 2013
Wine Enthusiast 97
While outwardly this wine is generous and opulent with great juicy sweetness, the core is structured and powerful. The wine is concentrated and complex, with dark tannins and a brooding, dense texture. This is a wine with a long-lived future.
by RV, Wine Enthusiast , 2013
Wine Spectator 96
This is riveting, with terrific tarry grip coursing underneath layers of smoldering bay leaf, warm plum confiture, freshly brewed espresso, dark cassis and well-steeped black tea. The charcoal and tobacco backdrop is gorgeous and should move forward through the core of fruit over time. Be patient though, as the structure is ironclad. This will really be electric once mature. Best from 2017 through 2040.
by JM, Wine Spectator , 2013
Wine Advocate 96+
Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Palmer rolls out of the glass with warm cassis, baked plums and boysenberries scents plus hints of candied violets, star anise and dried bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is generously fruited, with a firm backbone of grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long.
by LPB, Wine Advocate , 2020
Technical Details
Harvest
From 22nd september to 20th october.Vintage
Back-to-back very great vintages are hardly a frequent occurrence. In terms of quality, 2010 benefited from exceptionally favourable weather, like the 2009 vintage.Thanks to these particularly favourable conditions, we were able to take our time in order to pick each plot at peak ripeness. In fact, the 2010 harvest was the longest in Château Palmer's recent history.
Although the alcoholic degree is very high, like in 2009, the acidity synonymous with freshness - and tannic concentration are greater, making for wines with an extremely solid foundation. Their power, combined with a high level of acidity, gives them the potential for becoming benchmarks, and for this to be a legendary vintage. Furthermore, as opposed to previous vintages of the century that are responsible for Bordeaux's reputation, the ability to choose exactly the right time to pick and perfect control of extraction made it possible to temper the wines' strength and vigour. They are like a finely cut diamond that, over time, will fully express all the delicacy of Château Palmer's terroir.
After a late start to the growing season that protected the vines from spring frosts, bud break took place evenly in the month of April. By late May, the size of the potential crop appeared excellent. However, fertilization was greatly upset by a cold, wet period in June that caused flowering to be very spread out and led to a significant amout of coulure (shot berries), thereby reducing hopes for a large crop.
The weather in July was particularly warm and favourable, eliminating any heterogeneity in the vines after flowering, and véraison (colour change) occurred fairly quickly. This very beautiful weather - sunny, but not excessively hot, with cool nights - lasted without interruption until the end of the harvest.
The 2010 vintage also had a very marked water deficit that grew as the summer went on. This accounted for even greater phenolic concentration than in 2009 (which was already high), as well as very small berries with astonishing aromatic richness and well-preserved acidity. A few very welcome millimetres of rain in the second week of September (35 mm in Margaux) fortunately speeded up ripening of the skins in certain areas strongly affected by water stress.
Thanks to these particularly favourable conditions, we were able to take our time in order to pick each plot at peak ripeness. In fact, the 2010 harvest was the longest in Château Palmer's recent history.