Chateau Palmer, classified a Third Growth Bordeaux, is in the commune of Cantenac, the heart of the Margaux appellation.

The Palmer vineyards, originally part of the larger estate of Chateau d’Issan, cover 66 hectares of gravelly soil on terraces overlooking the Garonne River. There are equal amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (47% each). The remainder is Petit Verdot. From 2014 forward, the entire property has been farmed biodynamically.

Chateau Palmer is named after Major General Charles Palmer of the British Army, who bought the estate in 1814 from Marie de Gascq. A passionate man, he invested a great deal of time, energy and money to develop his property, purchasing land and buildings in the communes of Cantenac, Issan, and Margaux, and by the 1830s, his property covered 163 hectares, 82 hectares of which were vineyards. “Palmer's Claret” quickly gained popularity in London clubs and even found favor in the eyes of the future King George IV.

Charles sold the estate in 1843. The current owners, the Sichel and Mahler-Besse families, have been in place since 1938. Their focus throughout has been on authenticity, quality and consistency.

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.

The 2022 Chateau Palmer Bordeaux Blend from the Margaux sub-region in Bordeaux, France, has garnered exceptional praise from wine critics, underscoring its prominence as a standout vintage. This red wine, comprised of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, is noted for its deep garnet-purple hue and rich aromatic profile.

Jeff Leve of TheWineCellarInsider.com awarded it a near-perfect score of 99 points, highlighting its "dark, radiating purple, black hue" and a bouquet that bursts with "lilacs, violets, roses, white flowers, cinnamon, and clove." He emphasizes the wine's silky texture and a finish that "moves from red to black to red, with a refreshing mint note that holds your focus for over 50 seconds."

Jeb Dunnuck also bestowed a score of 99 points, emphasizing the wine's "mammoth-sized personality" with layers of "blue and black fruits, notes of melted chocolate, crushed stone, and spring flowers." He praised the decision by winemaker Thomas Duroux to extract more during vinification, resulting in a "truly Grand Vin in 2022."

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, represented by William Kelley, gave a slightly lower but still impressive score of 97 points. Kelley described the wine as "one of the most powerful wines this estate has ever produced," noting its aromas of "blackberries, burning embers, violets, iris, and sweet soil tones."

James Suckling awarded it 99 points, calling out the "sophisticated kaleidoscope of dark fruit such as blackcurrants, and spices such as salt and pepper, as well as cloves and nutmeg." He noted the wine's compact and dense nature, yet highlighted its "weightless" quality.

Jane Anson, who scored it 96 points, noted its "intense and concentrated" character with "dark brooding fruits" and a blend of "cassis, roasted plum, damson and star fruit with a curl of woodsmoke and tobacco leaf."

Vinous' Neal Martin, who rated it 98 points, praised the wine for its "precocious black cherries, blueberry, violet and touches of marmalade and tobacco," describing it as "complex and expressive."

Decanter also gave it a score of 97 points, noting the wine's "sharp, energetic, racy and electric" nature with a "succulent, perfumed fruit" and a "chalky sensation."

Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss was among the most impressed, giving it a perfect score of 100 points. He described it as a "majestic aromatic wine" with "layers of rich black fruits and firm tannins," predicting a "great future" for this "beautifully textured" wine.

Finally, The Wine Independent's review, scoring it 98 points, highlighted its "soft-spoken perfume of roses, lavender, star anise, and cloves" and a "profound core of Morello cherries, fresh, juicy blackberries, and blackcurrant cordial."

Overall, the 2022 Chateau Palmer has been universally lauded for its exceptional quality, complexity, and aging potential, making it a noteworthy addition to any wine collection.