Château Palmer 1996

A delicate and aromatic Margaux wine

The estate

Château Palmer is a star in the Margaux appellation, on the left bank of the Bordeaux region. Having built its legendary story on vintages that have become mythical, Château Palmer continues to write its history through fine wines that are renowned for their quality and their signature style.

The vineyard

Benefiting from an exceptional terroir located in the immediate vicinity of the Gironde estuary, Château Palmer comprises an unusual grape composition in the Médoc, with a strong emphasis on the Merlot variety, which appears alongside Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.

The vintage

The exceptional mild temperatures during the month of January were suddenly offset by a strong storm on February 2nd, followed by an extremely cool period which slowed down the budding of the vines on March 25th. The sunny and cold weather during April, marked by a frost episode on the 4th that did not impact the vines, preceded a cool and rainy month of May and then a significant heatwave in June. Flowering was early, rapid and uniform. The summer was characterised by alternating hot weather and heavy rainfall along with cool temperatures. Ripening remained slow due to a lack of sunshine in August. Despite a deterioration in the weather in mid-September, the harvest took place from 23 September to 8 October. The grapes were harvested from a vineyard that enjoyed an exeptionally healthy condition, with an optimal sugar content, a good concentration and a rich aromatic palette.

The blend

Merlot (40%)

Cabernet Sauvignon (55%)

Cabernet Franc (4%)

Petit Verdot (1%).

Château Palmer 1996: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Throughout the tasting, a refined palate mingles with delicate and subtle tannins.

Cellaring

Enjoy today, Château Palmer 1996 can wait in the cellar for several decades to reveal its full aromatic palette.