Palmer 2008

Margaux, Third Growth

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Tasting Notes
A stunning success for the vintage, and possibly the Margaux of the year, this wine, which achieved 13.5% natural alcohol, is a blend of 51% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot. Loads of barbecue smoke, licorice, incense, blackberry, new saddle leather and forest floor notes jump from the glass of this dense, purple-colored wine. Extraordinarily intense and full-bodied, with plenty of tannin, but not the formidable structure of the 2010, this is going to be one of the longest-lived wines of 2008. It is full, rich, layered, and should be reasonably approachable with 3-4 years of bottle age, and will also keep for 30+ years. Score: 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2014-2044 03 May 2011
The 2008 Palmer, which tips the scales at 13.5% natural alcohol (among the highest achieved at this property), is a blend of 51% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Petit Verdot. It is a massively rich wine with an inky/purple color, sensational density of fruit, velvety tannins, a glorious bouquet of black fruits, licorice, incense, and subtle barbecue smoke, a superb, full-bodied mouthfeel, and a fabulous texture and length. With several minutes of swirling, an enticing floral note emerges. The wine’s glycerin and sweetness suggest it will be approachable 3-4 years after bottling, yet keep for three decades or more. It appears to be among the finest Palmers made this decade, rivaling both the 2005 and 2000. Yields at Palmer were a shockingly low 30 hectoliters per hectare, and the harvest lasted from October 1 to October 17. Keep in mind, the natural alcohol percentage in the Merlots harvested at Chateau Palmer was a low of 13.5% and reached a lofty peak of 14.5%. All the Cabernet Sauvignons came in between 12%-12.5%. Moreover, the level of tannins and dry extract/polyphenols was the same as in 2005, which provides one more piece of evidence in what is a very successful vintage for Bordeaux. Score: 95 - 97 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012 - 2042 30 April 2009
Shows blackberry and black cherry, with hints of currant. Full-bodied, with firm tannins and a solid core. Long and fruity. Score: 89 - 92 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2009
Dark and glowing. Quite grown up and sophisticated. Draws you in on the nose - much more compelling than most 2008s. Sweet start - 51% Merlot! - very unusually high for 2008 and for Palmer. The opposite of Ch Margaux. Actually quite Ornellaia like, very soft and rich. Very seductive and lively. With velvety texture. Neat and energetic. Cool, even slightly minty. Really lots of pleasure. Even if quite unusual. The Palmer team love it - not least because it was so difficult. Italian bite. (Not that this will be a popular tasting note in Margaux.) Quite electric. 13.4%. Score: 18 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-26 01 April 2009
Very deep colour. Like the Alter Ego, the nose takes some coaxing from the glass, it is not as generous as the 2006 or 2007, rather this unfurls gracefully in the glass. Black cherries, violets with boysenberry and a touch of iodine. A slight clayey accent coming through. The palate is full-bodied, it has that same sense of energy, a real prickle on the tongue, very fresh and taut - tension. Firm tannins, again quite strict on the finish. Correct but supremely well focused. A certain austerity at the finish, but that will mellow out in time. Impressive (again). Score: 93 - 95 Neal Martin, Wine Spectator 01 April 2009

Tasting Notes

A stunning success for the vintage, and possibly the Margaux of the year, this wine, which achieved 13.5% natural alcohol, is a blend of 51% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot. Loads of barbecue smoke, licorice, incense, blackberry, new saddle leather and forest floor notes jump from the glass of this dense, purple-colored wine. Extraordinarily intense and full-bodied, with plenty of tannin, but not the formidable structure of the 2010, this is going to be one of the longest-lived wines of 2008. It is full, rich, layered, and should be reasonably approachable with 3-4 years of bottle age, and will also keep for 30+ years.

Score: 94

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2014-2044 03 May 2011

The 2008 Palmer, which tips the scales at 13.5% natural alcohol (among the highest achieved at this property), is a blend of 51% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Petit Verdot. It is a massively rich wine with an inky/purple color, sensational density of fruit, velvety tannins, a glorious bouquet of black fruits, licorice, incense, and subtle barbecue smoke, a superb, full-bodied mouthfeel, and a fabulous texture and length. With several minutes of swirling, an enticing floral note emerges. The wine’s glycerin and sweetness suggest it will be approachable 3-4 years after bottling, yet keep for three decades or more. It appears to be among the finest Palmers made this decade, rivaling both the 2005 and 2000. Yields at Palmer were a shockingly low 30 hectoliters per hectare, and the harvest lasted from October 1 to October 17. Keep in mind, the natural alcohol percentage in the Merlots harvested at Chateau Palmer was a low of 13.5% and reached a lofty peak of 14.5%. All the Cabernet Sauvignons came in between 12%-12.5%. Moreover, the level of tannins and dry extract/polyphenols was the same as in 2005, which provides one more piece of evidence in what is a very successful vintage for Bordeaux.

Score: 95 - 97

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012 - 2042 30 April 2009

Shows blackberry and black cherry, with hints of currant. Full-bodied, with firm tannins and a solid core. Long and fruity.

Score: 89 - 92

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2009

Dark and glowing. Quite grown up and sophisticated. Draws you in on the nose - much more compelling than most 2008s. Sweet start - 51% Merlot! - very unusually high for 2008 and for Palmer. The opposite of Ch Margaux. Actually quite Ornellaia like, very soft and rich. Very seductive and lively. With velvety texture. Neat and energetic. Cool, even slightly minty. Really lots of pleasure. Even if quite unusual. The Palmer team love it - not least because it was so difficult. Italian bite. (Not that this will be a popular tasting note in Margaux.) Quite electric. 13.4%.

Score: 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-26 01 April 2009

Very deep colour. Like the Alter Ego, the nose takes some coaxing from the glass, it is not as generous as the 2006 or 2007, rather this unfurls gracefully in the glass. Black cherries, violets with boysenberry and a touch of iodine. A slight clayey accent coming through. The palate is full-bodied, it has that same sense of energy, a real prickle on the tongue, very fresh and taut - tension. Firm tannins, again quite strict on the finish. Correct but supremely well focused. A certain austerity at the finish, but that will mellow out in time. Impressive (again).

Score: 93 - 95

Neal Martin, Wine Spectator 01 April 2009

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