Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Palmer
Label Name:
 
Margaux 3eme Cru
Vintage:
 
2016
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Margaux, Bordeaux
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
13.5%
Grape(s):
 
Merlot 47%, Cabernet Sauvignon 47%, Petit Verdot 6%
Acidity:
 
4
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Major scores: Jeb Dunnuck 100, Wine Enthusiast 100, Wine Advocate (Lisa Perrotti-Brown) 98, James Suckling 98, Vinous (Neal Martin) ~97–98; Decanter 98; multiple 98–100 point listings in critics' roundups

Tasting Note
Perfumed blackcurrant, blackberry and crushed violet with graphite, cedar and spice. Palate is dense yet silky, with fine-grained ripe tannins, vibrant acidity and an exceptionally long, layered finish.

Food Pairing
Western: roast leg of lamb, grilled ribeye, beef bourguignon, roasted duck, mature hard cheeses (Comté, Parmesan). Asian: Peking duck, Cantonese char siu, Korean BBQ short ribs, Sichuan-style braised beef, umami-rich mushroom hotpot.

Production Method
Hand-harvested grapes from biodynamically tended vines (conversion mid-2010s). Fermented in temperature-controlled vats; matured ~18 months in 60–65% new French oak. Bottled at the château.

Vineyard Info
Château Palmer, a Troisième Cru (1855) in Margaux/Cantenac, is famed for elegant, perfumed wines and its second label Alter Ego. Modern era led by Thomas Duroux; estate moved toward biodynamics in the 2010s.