Chateau Palmer 2019

JAMES SUCKLING: "So much sweet tobacco, stone, brambleberry and currant on the nose. The palate is full and compact with very polished tannins, yet they are solid and sturdy and run the length and width of the wine. Energetic acidity. Very structured and powerful, yet agile and impressive. Historic feel. From biodynamically grown grapes. This needs at least six years of bottle age to soften. Try after 2027."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Brombeeren und schwarze Kirschen, ein Hauch von Edelholz und Nougat, feiner nussiger Touch, kandierte Orangenzesten, etwas Lakritze, zart nach Marzipan. Kraftvoll, komplex, engmaschig, schwarze Waldbeeren, finessenreiche Struktur, tragende Tannine, würzig und dunkle Frucht im Abgang, sehr gut Länge, wirkt insgesamt noch sehr unentwickelt und zurückhaltend, dezente Süße im Nachhall, ein Vin de Garde, ein Langstreckenläufer, der noch Geduld einfordert. (2030–2060)"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The first thing you notice is the showy display of lilacs and roses before moving on to the currants, plums, cigar wrapper, black cherries and earthy nuances. As captivating as the perfume is, it is the sensuous, rich, silky, elegant, fresh, vibrant palate presence with its layers of perfectly ripe, black and red fruits. There is length, lift and longevity here with a vibrancy that resonates. The finish builds and expands as the fruits linger. Like all great vintages of Palmer, give this time to develop allowing the wine to gain complexity and additional nuances. This should age effortlessly for decades. Drink from 2032-2060."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This is a very fine wine with a serious structure that is cushioned by the generous black fruits. It is so balanced, smooth with velvet behind the great tannins. The wine will age for many years. Drink from 2028. Organic and biodynamic."

DECANTER: "A serious and darkly fruited wine with notes of milk chocolate, violets and black cherries supported by fine-grained and velvety tannins that really coat the mouth, carefully constructed with acidity underneath that gives brightness and lift. The emphasis here is really the concentration and density of flavours with layers of black chocolate, black cherries, cocoa powder and cooling minerality but each with purity and definition. Excellently framed and well packaged with energy and verve. So many elements going on: a great Palmer. Drinking Window 2029 - 2050"

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2019 Château Palmer is even richer, with a stacked, full-bodied, concentrated profile as well as beautiful notes of ripe black cherries, blackcurrants, lead pencil, tobacco leaf, and chocolate. I love its mid-palate, it has building, ripe, yet substantial tannins, tons of fat and glycerin, and a gorgeous finish. I don't think it will ultimately match the 2009, 2016, or 2018, but it's nevertheless a brilliant wine as well as one of the stars of the show from Margaux. It will benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age (it already offers pleasure) and have 30-40 years of overall longevity."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep, glowing crimson. Intense and intriguing. Sweet start, and very long and dramatic. Polished tannins here in abundance and a certain glow. Incredible length. Nuances on the finish. Something minerally, too. So long!"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2019 Palmer is a rich, dramatic wine that soars from the glass with aromas of cherries, blackberries and berry fruit liqueur mingled with notions of violets, rose petals and sweet spices. Full-bodied, layered and seamless, it's powerful and immensely concentrated, with an enveloping core of lively fruit that largely conceals the wine's ripe, powdery structuring tannins. Concluding with a long, penetrating finish, it's a brilliant rendition of the contemporary Palmer style from Thomas Duroux and his team."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Shows the powerful fruit of the vintage, with waves of dark plum, warmed cassis and cherry compote flavors driving through, inlaid with a graphite edge and backed by an iron note on the finish. Features good underlying energy and everything is knit tightly, without the toothy grain typical of the vintage. Very solid. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2038."