Chateau Palmer 1989

If a reclassification were ever in the cards, Château Palmer would be up for a promotion without a doubt.  This Third Growth Margaux estate transcends its ranking from 1855 and is now considered by many wine critics to belong in the higher ranks.  These sensationally fragrant,  richly complex wines are some of the finest examples of Bordeaux.  Their second label, Alter Ego, has a cult-like following and if a new classification were ever to take place, would be easily considered a Fourth Growth wine or higher.  Alter Ego is a worthy purchase for any wine buyer - and it never stays on the shelves too long.  With knockout vintages each year, Château Palmer is a star producer with a massively loyal fanbase.

The history of Château Palmer dates far before it received its namesake.  The vineyards were initially holdings of Château d’Issan before they were purchased by the fiery Madame de Gascq.  Madame de Gascq saw the estate’s potential well before anybody else did and told Englishman Charles Palmer the wines of the estate were easily as good as some of the First Growth properties in the Médoc.  Charles agreed with her, purchased the estate, and per the tradition of the time named it after himself.  Charles Palmer tripled the property’s holdings to 80-hectares, and in 1843 sold it to the Periere family.  The Periere family invested a lot of money into improving and modernizing the Château, only to sell it to a group of four powerful négociant families.  Of these four families, the Mähler-Besse family and the Sichel family are still some of the major shareholders running the estate today.

In 1998, Château Palmer debuted their legendary second label, Alter Ego.  Buyers take note – Alter Ego is not a Second Wine.  It’s an entirely separate label with different plots used for production.  Château Palmer is unique for a Left Bank estate because their vineyards – and wines including Alter Ego -- have a heavy preponderance of Merlot.  These vines are planted within the mixture of gravelly/clay soils.  Many other properties in Margaux plant their Merlot vines simply in clay, but what makes Château Palmer unique is their decision to plant these vines in their more graveled areas.

Today Château Palmer is overseen by the young and energetic Thomas Duroux. Duroux brings with him an impressive background; he formerly was in charge of the Super Tuscan legend Ornellaia prior to his working at Château Palmer.  Before that, he apprenticed at Château Léoville Las Cases and has worked at renowned wineries such as Mondavi and Tokay.  Thomas Duroux was responsible for transitioning the vineyards to 100% biodynamic viticulture. Sheep graze in the 60-hectare vineyards and a herd of cows provide manure for fertilizer.  Special nettle and horsetail teas are sprayed on the vines to assist in fertilizing and protecting them.  Château Palmer has also invested in soundwave machines that emit tones and vibrations to help develop protein cells in the vines.  Château Palmer has been Certified Biodynamic since 2017, with their 2014 label being their first 100% biodynamic vintage.

The viticultural team at Château Palmer has a culture of respect regarding the land, their wines, and their team.  That holistic mentality and consistent pursuit of excellence manifests itself in their profound wines – year after year. 

"Tasted at the Château Palmer vertical in London, the 1989 Château Palmer has always been my favourite vintage from that decade after the 1983. The first bottle was unfortunately corked. The second was as it should be: the nose tensile with red berries, sous-bois, potpourri and strawberry pastille - lively and energetic. The palate is medium-bodied and vibrant right from the start, silky in texture with plenty of citrus fruit, gently building to a harmonious and detailed finish that lingers in the mouth. This is a magnificent Château Palmer that continues to effortlessly dish out so much vinous pleasure. Tasted May 2015." - Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate (5/29/2016, Interim Issue), Ratings: 96, Drink: 2016-2035

"One of the superstars of the vintage, Palmer’s 1989 retains a dark plum/purple color with some pink and a hint of amber creeping in at the rim. A big nose of charcoal, white flowers (acacia?), licorice, plums, and black currants comes from the glass of this elegant, medium to full-bodied, very concentrated, seamlessly made wine. Gorgeous and seemingly fully mature yet brilliantly balanced, this wine may well turn out to be a modern-day clone of the glorious 1953." - Robert Parker Jr., The Wine Advocate (12/31/2002), Ratings: 95

"Palmer can be the most seductive wine of the Medoc when its proprietors get things right. The 1989 is a deceptively supple, generous, and fleshy wine that seems almost too tasty to support decades of cellaring. But do not be fooled! It displays that compelling fragrance that Palmer so frequently achieves in great vintages - aromas of flowers, super-ripe, plummy fruit, and toasty oak. A satiny-textured wine, with velvety tannins, and splendid levels of fruit extraction, at two years of age it is frightfully easy to drink. It will develop more structure and focus, along the lines of the sublime 1961. While not as massive as the 1983, it is one of the thrilling wines of 1989; I have consistently rated it between 94-97." - Robert Parker Jr., The Wine Advocate (2/20/1992, Issue 79), Ratings: 94-97