Finesse and elegance, typical of the great wines of Margaux, are the trademarks of Chateau Palmer. The unusual combination of grape varieties for a classified Left Bank wine–as much Merlot as Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Petit Verdot–gives Chateau Palmer a bouquet of extraordinary complexity, with fruit, flowers, and spice wrapped in a fleshy and generous structure. The subtle balance between aromatic richness and powerful, yet always restrained, tannins makes Palmer charming even when very young.

The grapes are fermented separately by variety and plot in 54 conical, stainless steel vats. The wine then ages 18 to 21 months in French oak barrels, less than 50% new.

Chateau Palmer's 2008 Bordeaux Blend is a celebrated wine from the Margaux sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This red wine, produced by Chateau Palmer, is a blend of 51% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Petit Verdot. It has received high praise from numerous wine critics, highlighting its exceptional qualities and aging potential.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded the wine a score of 94, describing it as "a stunning success for the vintage and possibly the Margaux of the year." The wine is noted for its 13.5% natural alcohol and complex aroma profile, including "barbecue smoke, licorice, incense, blackberry, new saddle leather, and forest floor notes." Parker emphasizes its "extraordinarily intense and full-bodied" nature, predicting it will be long-lived, with the potential to age for 30+ years.

James Suckling gave the wine a score of 93, commending Chateau Palmer for its expertise. He highlighted the wine's "blackberry and licorice aromas and flavors," along with a "vanilla cedar and chocolate aftertaste." He advises patience, suggesting that the wine will benefit from additional aging to mellow its "chewy tannins."

Wine Enthusiast awarded the wine an impressive 95 points, praising its richness and concentration. The reviewer noted that the tannins are "so sweet, blending easily into the powerful texture of blackberry fruits with hints of licorice." This review also mentions the wine's persistent acidity, which adds to its overall structure.

Wine Spectator gave the wine a score of 91, describing it as having "dark plum, mulled currant, and blackberry notes," with additional flavors of "roasted apple wood, maduro tobacco, cocoa, and espresso." The review also remarks on the wine's "nicely rounded flesh and a long integrated finish."

Jane Anson and Jeb Dunnuck both rated the wine 94 points, with Anson noting its "young and dense" fruit character and Dunnuck praising its "beautiful concentration" and "still-present ripe tannins." The latter also mentioned the wine's potential to age for another 30 years.

Decanter awarded the wine 95 points, noting its "deeper grip of fruit" and "gorgeous balance of seamlessly linked fruit, tannin, and acidity." The review highlighted flavors of "pencil lead, brambly blackberry fruits, and a cedar swirl."

Finally, Jeff Leve gave the wine its highest score of 96 points, describing it as "rich, full, sensuous, floral, and sexy" with "fresh, sweet, and pure" fruit. He noted that while the wine is not fully developed, it is an excellent choice for those who appreciate Bordeaux with a balance of fruit and emerging nuances.

Overall, the 2008 Chateau Palmer Bordeaux Blend is a highly acclaimed wine with a promising aging potential, making it a noteworthy addition to any wine collection.