The use of new oak was also cut back in order to emphasize the fruit aspects of the wine. Consequently, the 2013 Palmer is an easygoing, fruit-forward, fresh, pure wine with no vegetal characteristics or astringent tannins. This opaque purple-colored, medium-bodied, plush 2013 preserves some of its Margaux typicity even in this tough vintage. Drink it over the next decade.
Palmer's administrator, Thomas Duroux, realized that 2013 was going to be a year requiring huge amounts of labor and a draconian-like selection. Only 3,800 cases of 2013 Palmer were produced from a blend of 49% Merlot and 51% Cabernet Sauvignon.
A blend of 49% Merlot and 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Palmer 2013 certainly has more fruit intensity on the nose compared to the Alter Ego. A little more opulent, there is a sense of plushness typical of Palmer with oodles of black cherries, cassis and blueberries - hints of dried violet. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. The acidity is nicely judged with a fine masculine, swarthy finish that shows more length than the Alter Ego. This is a good effort from the Palmer team - what you might call a "swish" Margaux in the making. Tasted April 2014.
This is very solid for the vintage with blackberry, dark chocolate and black currants. Full body, with firm and chewy tannins and a juicy finish. Muscular wine for the vintage. 51% cabernet sauvignon and 49% merlot. 3,800 cases of this wine compared to 9,000 in a normal year.
Rose-pink around the edges of the glass, with a ruby core, this radiates a feeling of delicacy and mouthwatering rapsberry and reducrrant fruits on the attack. There is depth through the mid palate, and they have done a great job of careful extraction, accentuating the soft woodsmoke, peony and fresh acidities. A notoriously difficult year, and this is the only one in the entire lineup when you feel the softness on the finish - one to drink over the next decade. Only a third of the total production made it into the final blend of Château Palmer. Harvest September 27 to October 11. Biodynamic farming had been adpoted across 33ha of vines at this point, with 100% conversion the following year. 60% new oak.