Palmer only made 20 hectoliters of wine a hectare. That must be the record for the smallest production in the vintage. Extraordinary concentration for the vintage with full body and rich velvety tannins yet it's fresh and intense. Really impressive and powerful. Wow. One of the wines of the vintage.

A hail storm at the end of June damaged 90% of the vineyard so this is a small yield at 21hl/ha - the lowest since 1961 (until 2018). The reduced crop translates into powerful cassis and rosemary spice flavours but the cooler weather in July and August means the fruit is more restrained in character than expected, and you see that here at 10 years on. It's fairly serious in style, not an exuberant vintage and I would suggest giving it another three or four years in bottle before it really reaches its drinking window. As it opens, it shows spiced plum and blueberry, touches of liquorice root and wisps of smoke - all of these things that indicate a fresher rather than a hugely solar vintage, and one that is going to age with elegance and finesse. One of the very few Palmers without Petit Verdot, but spice is still one of the dominant notes. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040
Blind tasted by Jane Anson (at Bordeaux, 19 Feb 2021)
Part of Bordeaux 2011: The top-rated wines tasted 10 years on

Shows an ample core of kirsch and bright cherry fruit that's very expressive, with flecks of white pepper, violet and tobacco. The racy acidity is well-embedded, and this has solid length, with a velvety edge in reserve that lets extra cassis and violet notes emerge. Should stretch out nicely during the rest of its elevage. Tasted non-blind.-J.M.

Chateau Palmer’s 2011 yields of a minuscule 20 hectoliters per hectare were caused by the overall drought conditions, the extreme heat at the end of June, and some problems during flowering. Only 55% of the crop made it into Palmer, and given the lowest yields since 1961, the final blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon possesses huge tannins, but they are remarkably velvety and sweet. This opaque purple-colored, dense, concentrated, full-bodied wine will need time to totally form its personality. The harvest, which occurred between September 10-24, produced a big, boisterous, concentrated wine that should age for 25-30 or more years.

[55M/45CS] Cabernet dominated to smell, even if not Cabernet dominated in blend; dense, mineral, spicy and darkly ripe fruit to smell; rich, concentrated, fresh, finely and firmly tannic wine; dry, gravelly, crisply ripe flavour, long in the mouth, gently grippy, tenacious across the palate; a fine depth of fruit here with an attractive breadth, a subtle sweetness, and excellent length. Intensity, tenacity, length, but a long term Palmer in a more masculine, muscular style. 2025-40 [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2012]

There wasn't a huge amount to choose between the Alter Ego and the Grand Vin except in the power and intensity of the tannins in the structure, suggesting the Palmer has a much longer life ahead of it and more potential to flesh out. Both wines boast a good balance of Merlot and Cabernet; the Palmer is chunky but not clunky and packs plenty of sweet fruit.

The 2011 Palmer has a ripe sweet bouquet of black cherries, blueberry, a touch of iodine and crushed violets, flamboyant as usual. There is a hint of cough candy that develops with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm grip. There is a carapace of toasty tannins underneath which lies a core of dense black fruit, although it does not have the same degree of finesse on the finish as say, Rauzan Segla. This is quite a serious Margaux, one that probably deserves longer ageing than others to allow those brusque, rigid tannins to soften. Tasted April 2012.

Quality 825 | Brand 994 | Economics 910 |

buzz brand
Quality: Predicted life of 14 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group, which averages 8 years Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 43 of the world's top wine lists, including De Librije Economics: Above its peer group average price of £45 for the 2011 vintage Production: Lower production than its peer group average of 112,956 bottles

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017