Chateau Palmer

History

It is generally said that, before anyone living here began using the name Palmer, this land was part of a larger estate owned by Château d'Issan. After it was later separated, this land took its name from the family that owned it, de Gascqs.

In the early 1800s, Marie Brunte de Ferriere, known to everyone as Madame de Gascq, was looking for a buyer to sell this land to. The offer she made to Charles Palmer, a British cavalry officer, was straightforward: the wine produced here was every bit as good as that of Lafite. He purchased the property shortly thereafter and, as owners often did at the time, renamed it after himself and set about expanding the vineyards.

In the 1840s, the estate passed to the Pereire family, who invested heavily in modernizing it. They also built the château, with its four turret-like towers, and the surrounding complex of buildings.

Later, in 1938, Château Palmer was sold to a consortium consisting of four families, Ginestets, Miailhes, Mahler-Besses, Sichels, many of whom were the wealthiest négociants (wine merchants) in Bordeaux. Through this partnership, the estate took on the form we know today.

Cantenac, Issan and Margaux

Palmer's vineyards are not concentrated in a single area. These vineyards are located across several communes, including Cantenac, Issan, and Margaux, and are situated on plots that have long been considered among the best in this appellation. This is one of the main reasons why this winery consistently outperforms its classification.

Charles Palmer was responsible for establishing most of these vineyards. He tripled the vineyard area to approximately 80 hectares and additionally acquired 80 hectares of woodland and parkland.

During the Pereire family's tenure, the vineyard area exceeded 100 hectares, the largest in Palmer's history. Since then, the vineyard has never again reached that scale.

The grapes

Château Palmer consists of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in nearly equal proportions, which sets it apart from most Médoc classified growths, where Cabernet typically accounts for a much larger share. The remainder consists of a small amount of Petit Verdot.

This can be confirmed by examining two vintages:

• Cabernet Sauvignon: 53% in 2005, 50% in 2015
• Merlot: 40% and 44% in the same years
• Petit Verdot: 7% and 6%

Although the proportions vary from harvest to harvest, the balance between the two main varieties remains consistent, which plays a major role in defining the wine's texture.

Winemaking

Many classified Bordeaux estates emphasize nature. Château Palmer operates an actual farm. On the premises, sheep graze, a vegetable farmer grows produce on-site, and the harvested produce is served at the winery's cafeteria, where employees working in the vineyards dine.

This winery views the ecosystem not as a mere footnote but as an integral part of its narrative; it operates not as a single wine cellar or a grand castle, but as a small village centered around a cluster of working facilities. For a classified Margaux estate, this combination of livestock, vegetables, and grapevines coexisting side by side is highly unusual.

Palmer, Alter Ego and Historical

Château Palmer is a grand vin, a wine the winery describes as its Margaux voice. It is characterized by its delicacy, leathery aromas, and satin-smooth tannins.

Alter Ego de Palmer is not sold as a lower-tier version. The winery refers to it as its other self, a different interpretation of the same terroir, resulting in a wine that is natural and smooth, yet simultaneously intense and light. Although produced from the same vineyard, the interpretation is distinct.

There is also the Palmer Historical 19th-Century wine. Since this wine contains Syrah, it cannot be sold as Margaux. Red wines bearing the Margaux name still form the core of its production.