Deep dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Black berry fruit, a hint of cassis, delicate nougat, subtle spice, inviting bouquet. Complex, juicy, black cherries, fine extract sweetness, ripe tannins, mineral aftertaste, nougat touch on the finish, great length, sure maturity potential, seductive style.

(97-99 points) One of the most refined and seamless wines of the vintage is the 2025 Palmer, a blend of 55% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot that wafts from the glass with aromas of sweet blackberries, plums and licorice complemented by floral accents of violet and wisteria (yes, the window of the tasting room was closed). Full-bodied, suave and layered, with a deep and concentrated core of fruit, bright acids and supple tannins, it's already harmonious and complete, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. At only 13.5% alcohol, this is quite a bit lower than most recent sunny vintages at Palmer.

(97-99 points) The nose of the 2025 Palmer is just mind-blowing, an intense floral perfume reminiscent of scented white peonies, lavender, black violets, white peach and orange peel. The density takes this to a new level, with a compact, sinewy, fresh and polished core of silky fruit, holding a finessed and balanced presence through the middle, the dark and savoury fruits wrapping up a core of tense, fine and tightly knit tannins. These tannins are superb, tight and correct, showing up the second wine just a little. This is a quite stunning Palmer, with so much going on here; structure, reposed fruit, sinewy athleticism and fine tannins. It has such superb length too, filled with those glorious tannins. Hats off to Thomas Duroux and team, this is excellent. This is 55% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, with a yield of just 20 hl/ha this year. The alcohol is reported to be 13.5%. 97-99/100

(96-98 points) (Margaux; 41% Cabernet Sauvignon; 55% Merlot; 4% Petit Verdot; a final yield of 20 hl/ha; 13% alcohol; tasted with Tomas Duroux at Palmer). Black raspberry, blueberry, bramble, blackberry and a little black cherry. This is very Palmer and gorgeously seductive with it. With aeration we have a little patchouli and rose petal - utterly beguiling. This is more fruit-centred than Alter Ego and there is a broader palate of fruit present within it. It's a little more vibrant and dynamic - almost pulsatingly so - and it also has less of Alter's smoke and cordite notes. We find here the classical cedar signature of Palmer and those supple black cherries. In terms of texture, this is lush, velour rather than cashmere. It is sublime in the mid-palate indulgence it already offers. And it is wonderfully layered, an impression reinforced by the vertical pull of the tannins that prevent this ever being too ample in the mouth. Those tannins penetrate between the layers and here one can starts to understand the impressive, even imposing, structure of this great wine. 96-98+

(96-98+ points) A brilliant, dense purple-hued wine cut from the same cloth as its stablemate, the 2025 Château Palmer offers a massive array of red, blue, and black fruits supported by chalky minerality, liquid violets, and graphite on the nose. Based on 55% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Petit Verdot that's being raised in 50% new barrels and foudres, it checks in at 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.7. It's full-bodied on the palate, with a round, sexy mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. It's much more structured and tannic compared to the Alter Ego, with a slightly more inward style, yet it has enough fruit and texture to offer pleasure early, and it's going to deserve at least a decade of cellaring.

(96-98 points) The 2025 Palmer is unusual in that Merlot drives the blend this year. That results in an unusually juicy Grand Vin. Even so, there's plenty of supporting structure. The blend is 55% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Black fruit, lavender, menthol, licorice, gravel and chocolate build into a driving, potent finish. There's a lot of gravitas and substance here. I am very much looking forward to tasting this as a finished wine; my impression today is that the 2025 is holding back quite a bit of its potential. -Antonio Galloni

Strongly perfumed aromatics, really quite intense and upfront, so expressive but more deep and seductive with heady scents of roses and blackcurrants. Instantly alive in the mouth, there’s an energy here that’s really captivating. Chewy, succulent, light on its feel but packing so many tannins yet it feels seamless. Aerial almost but there’s complexity with a fine layer of chewiness and chalkiness. Perhaps more delicate in some ways than other more plush Palmers but there’s power for sure wrapped up in freshness and approachability. Sturdy, stately, complex. I do love the darker, maybe more firm, edgy wine. Quite a compelling Palmer for me, more than just fruit and acidity. 14% press wine. 85 IPT. Harvest September 4–26.

(95-97 points) Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 Palmer charges out with energetic notes of freshly crushed plums, red currants, and ripe blackberries, giving way to nuances of violets, rose buds, anise, and fertile loam, with a touch of rosemary. The medium-bodied palate has a compelling texture of chalk mixed with silk, backed up by a racy line and intense black and red berry layers, finishing long and perfumed. A real head-turner!

Clear spice, cumin, cloves, incense, wonderfully balanced, extremely slow unroll through the palate, floral Cabernet character dominant with crushed rose petals, and aromatics are totally jumping out of the glass. 3.65ph, harvest September 8 to 24. In terms of the blend, 1998 had more Merlot than Cabernet Sauvignon in Palmer, so that is a good sign. Thomas Duroux director. The soils here have that layer of gravel but also clay that really comes in useful in dry vintages such as 2025.

(93-96+ points) Crunchy and peppery, full bodied, spicy and well built. There are classic notes of tannin, lots of concentrated, red berries and a fine layer of strong cassis-like fruit. As with most other 20205s you find a lot of juicy freshness surrounding the tannic structure finishing in a fresh peppery aftertaste. This is a classic Palmer but an elegant wine rather than a blockbuster.