The finest vintage I’ve ever tasted from this estate, surpassing the 2009 and 2010, the 2016 Château Palmer is a blend of 47% each of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance Petit Verdot, all of which was brought up in 65% new French oak. This magical effort reveals a saturated purple color as well as a huge nose of crème de cassis, graphite, crushed rocks, and spring flowers, and it develops beautifully with time in the glass. Full-bodied, deep, incredibly concentrated and powerful, it nevertheless just glides over the palate with flawless purity and balance, present, ripe tannins, and a finish that just won’t quit. This is Bordeaux at its most regal and classic. It will be drinkable with just 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for half a century.
100 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2019)
Technical Director Thomas Duroux and his team made one of the most brilliant wines of the 2016 vintage. Palmer is simply exceptional. Rich and dramatically sweeping in the glass, the 2016 is breathtaking. All the elements simply fall into place in a wine of mesmerizing beauty. The counterpoint of dark, sumptuous fruit and floral notes makes for an utterly compelling Palmer that will take its place among the estate's finest vintages. Dark cherry, lavender, spice and mocha are some of the many notes that build into a deep, substantial finish that is truly unforgettable. In a word: magnificent!
100 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2019)
Powerful tannins and hugely rich fruit balance together in this superb wine. The velvet texture belies the power behind the concentrated, ripe black-fruit flavor, with vibrant acidity giving ample lift. The wine's structure will ensure aging for many years. Drink from 2024.
100 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (May 2019)
Last tried at the 10 years on tasting back in January of this year, and once again this confirms that the 2016 Palmer showcases the power and concentration of the vintage, remaining concentrated and muscular, in need of a few more years to fully realise its evident potential. With 30 minutes in the glass, a slow unroll reveals layers of cassis, bilberry, cigar box, graphite, peony flowers, liquorice root, cocoa bean, espresso and gunsmoke. Love how the nuanced florality of the Margaux appellation is hidden underneath the architecture. The estate was being fully farmed biodynamically at this point, but still two years away from certification.. Thomas Duroux director, 60% new oak for ageing.
99 points, Jane Anson (Sep 2026)
The 2016 Palmer is a blend of 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot. Opaque garnet-purple colored, it slowly glides out of the glass with compelling notes of blueberry compote, warm cassis and kirsch with emerging hints of violets, cigar box, black tea, sandalwood and Sichuan pepper. Medium to full-bodied, wonderfully rich, concentrated and packed with latent energy, the palate literally grows in the mouth, revealing layer upon layer of black, blue and red fruits and tons of floral sparks, framed by super ripe, incredibly fine-grained tannins and finishing with epic length. It’s a wine that makes you wanna drape yourself languidly over a chaise lounge, glass of Palmer in hand, sighing with deep satisfaction, “This is so wonderfully Palmer.”
98+ points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Nov 2018)
Tar, smoke, dark chocolate, dark berries, tobacco, and earth on the nose. Precise, focused tannins and dark fruit on the palate. Compact yet expressive, showing attractive harmony. Layered and persistent. Approachable with some aeration, but will benefit from continued aging. Drink or hold. 10 Years On retrospective.
98 points, Jacobo García Andrade, James Suckling (Feb 2026)
A fine and granular nose, peppery and spicy, complex and very impressive is offered by the 2016 Palmer. The taste is spicy and peppery as well, granular and finely structured with a wonderful, velvety and round cassis like elegant fruit. The aftertaste is long being both velvety and spicy. It is an exquisite glass of Palmer on 1st growth level.
98 points, Ivar Bjurner, Wine Independent (Jan 2026)
As is always the case with Palmer, the richness, depth and silkiness is just so impressive. Sophisticated and well constructed, with a vertical lift-off, there's a creamy richness on the palate which supports pencil-lead, liquorice, damson, black cherry and slate. I love the smoky cocoa bean finish. Like the Alter Ego, it's a different style this year but no less impressive, displaying width, heft and incredible persistency. It's a wine that's going to age far into the future and is extremely easy to recommend. The highest ever proportion of grand vin was produced in 2016.
98 points, Decanter (Oct 2018)
Top Quality Store
