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.