Château Palmer 2016

"Despite the harshness of spring 2016, it's the exceptional quality of our two wines that will go down in Château Palmer's history for this vintage. After an extremely mild winter, the first buds on our Merlot vines came out of their winter dormancy a week early.

However, vine growth was moderated by a difficult start to spring. Humid conditions, combined with cool temperatures, intensified and became an extremely favorable breeding ground for mildew. Between May 20 and June 20, total rainfall reached 130 millimeters! Never since Domaine has our vineyard been under biodynamic management have we had to cope with such pressure. But thanks to the hard work and total commitment of all the winegrowers at Château Palmer, we've managed to rise to the challenge. The only break in this gloomy spring came the week of June 6.

Flowering - a crucial phase in the vine's development - took place under optimal conditions. However, everything remained to be done... The weather at the beginning of the summer gave us renewed hope. The water constraints so necessary for grape concentration gradually set in during July. Temperatures remained relatively moderate, however, and the delay in the physiological cycle did not catch up. Mivéraison was not reached until around August 10, and at this stage we know that the harvest will be late. The continued absence of rainfall in July and August led us to fear that the most sensitive soils would be blocked.

Fortunately, on September 13, we recorded 37 millimeters of water in the Château Palmer rain gauge. We didn't see any more until the harvest... but we're smiling again. The harvest began on October 3, marking one of the latest starts in the estate's history. The harvest is modest, but the aromatic intensity of the grapes is Extraordinary. The tannins are powerful and perfectly ripe, inviting us to Extraire them steadily, especially for the vats we press "Château Palmer". At the end of these first months of ageing, the balance of our two wines differs significantly from that of previous great vintages: a classic degree of alcohol gives way to an exceptional tannic structure. The velvety character of Château Palmer is more than ever our hallmark."

- Château Palmer

HARVEST DATE 03/10/2016 TO 18/10/2016