Appellations

Bordeaux 2016: Palmer, Gloria, St Pierre & Fleur Cardinale

Palmer.jpg
 
The 2016 Chateau Palmer is a "Mesmerizing" wine that receives a potentially perfect score from James Suckling (99-100) and high praise from all the critics.  This an elegant, classic Margaux with with an exceptionally long and graceful finish. 
  
"very impressive length, completing what is an intellectual Palmer, one that I suspect will really blossom in bottle."  Neal Martin
"perfect example of the appellation" Jane Anson, Decanter
"the 2016 Palmer is utterly captivating"  Antonio Galloni

Today also sees the release of a couple of high scoring St Julien stablemates; Chateau Gloria (93-95 NM) and Chateau Saint Pierre (94-96 NM). 

The appellation of Saint Julien performed particularly strongly this year and we would particularly highlight Chateau Gloria as producing a very good wine this year.  "A super-classic Saint-Julien, Gloria delivers serious quality for the money" (92-95 AG).

Finally we have a "very fine" Saint Emilion from Fleur Cardinale and an "excellent" Grand Puy Ducasse that "should give a couple decades of drinking pleasure".   
 
PALMER - £2840 per 12 in bond 
99-100 James Suckling "I wrote that the 2015 was incredible, and this 2016 is again. It's equally structured and powerful as the 2015, yet there's an underlying intellectual serenity to this wine. You taste it, and you want to know and experience it even more. Full and tannic yet ever so polished and beautiful. Mesmerizing. Made from biodynamically grown grapes."
 
Chateau GLORIA - £360 per 12 in bond 
92-95 Antonio Galloni "The 2016 Gloria is striking. Ripe, dense and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2016 exudes class. Super-ripe red cherry, plum, pomegranate, rose petal, cinnamon and licorice notes abound, but it is the wine's juiciness and overall texture that are most appealing, A super-classic Saint-Julien, Gloria delivers serious quality for the money. Despite its obvious depth and fleshiness, the 2016 Gloria is also one of the most restrained, gracious Saint-Juliens readers will come across."
 
Chateau SAINT PIERRE - £545 per 12 in bond 
94-96 Neal Martin "The Cabernet comes through strongly on the nose as you would expect: quite intense black fruit, graphite and just a touch of dried herbs. There is lovely definition and focus on display. The palate is well balanced with grainy tannin, a crisp line of acidity, classic in style in keeping with the style of the vintage with very fine mineralité and tension towards the sprightly finish. It is one of the most Pauillac-like Château Saint-Pierres that I have tasted, a very well crafted, almost understated but sophisticated wine that will age for 20 to 30 years. This is a fantastic Saint Julien that may well rest at the top of my banded score."
 
Chateau FLEUR CARDINALE - £360 per 12 in bond 
92-94 Neal Martin "Now this is a more restrained take for Fleur Cardinale, very pure and refined with red cherries, wild strawberry and light cassis notes, the oak neatly integrated (better than the 2015). The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip on the entry, a fine bead of acidity, crisp and structured with a tightly wound finish that suggests that it will need four or five years in bottle. I suspect this will surpass the 2015 Fleur Cardinale - this is very fine."
 
GRAND PUY DUCASSE - £350 per 12 in bond
91-93 Neal Martin "This has a very attractive bouquet with pure blackberry and raspberry coulis aromas, just that hint of pencil lead leading you towards Pauillac. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, plenty of sappy black fruit and a hint of tar and graphite towards the persistent finish. This is an excellent "G.P.D" that should give a couple decades of drinking pleasure."
 
 
To place an order, please contact us at sales@albanyvintners.com