Château Palmer 2016 3ème Cru Classé Organic

BLEND – CHATEAU PALMER

• Merlot: 47%
• Cabernet Sauvignon: 47%
• Petit Verdot: 6%

BLEND – ALTER EGO

• Merlot: 40%
• Cabernet Sauvignon: 48%
• Petit Verdot: 12%

HARVEST DATES

From 3rd to 18th October 2016

Despite a mild winter, a rainy spring, a moderately warm summer, and a late harvest, the quality of the grapes proved to be nothing less than extraordinary. Bringing out such ripe, powerful tannins is the cellar team’s raison d’être. In the end, an exquisite harmony was struck between structure and silk.

Winter proved very mild and the vines were a week ahead of schedule. However, their growth was restrained due to the mild, wet weather. These conditions are extremely favorable for the development of mildew, and we had 130 millimeters of rainfall in just one month! We had never experienced such pressure since the estate shifted to its biodynamic approach. However, thanks to the winegrowers’ hard work and unwavering commitment, we managed to rise to the challenge.

Luckily, flowering took place in optimum conditions during the week of June 6. Summer finally arrived with moderate temperatures and no rain. This led to a fear of potential setbacks on the most sensitive plots. Fortunately, some welcome rain arrived, much to the relief of the whole team. The harvest, which only began on October 3, was one of the latest in the estate’s history. Although modest in quantity, the aromatic intensity of the grapes was extraordinary. The tannins were powerful and perfectly ripe, which led us to opt for a more intense extraction.

After the first months of aging, the equilibrium of our two wines differed significantly from that of our previous great vintages: an entirely customary degree of alcohol revealed an exceptionally tannic structure. It seems the velvety texture of Château Palmer wines is more than ever our hallmark.