Palmer - Margaux 2020

Vinous

95,5-95,5

byNeal Martinthe2/28/2025

The 2020 Palmer has a relatively straightforward nose, more austere than its peers—not in a negative way, just reserved and a little leafier. The palate is overtly sweet, almost candied on the entry, with a very concentrated orange zest and marmalade sorbet-like quality. This is perhaps missing a little Margaux DNA on the finish, but it is still very attractive. Returning to it after ten minutes, there is structure and persistence. It is interesting how, tasted blind, the Grand and _Deuxième Vin) are so close together, but I am certain this will pull away with bottle age. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Alexandre Ma

99

byAlexandre Mathe4/18/2023

Wine Advocate

97

byWilliam Kelleythe4/6/2023

Aromas of raspberries, cassis and cherries mingle with hints of violets, raw cocoa and hints of truffle in a perfumed bouquet. The 2020 Palmer is a full-bodied, layered and seamless wine that's deep and concentrated, with a vibrant core of beautifully pure and perfumed fruit, lively acids and ultra-refined tannins. This suave but authoritative Palmer is one of the high points of the vintage.

Wine Spectator

94

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2023

Nicely packed, with a mix of black currant, plum and blackberry compote flavors at the core, all supported by bay leaf, tobacco and roasted cedar notes. Shows good energy throughout, along with a swath of freshly plowed earth and an underlying hint of cast iron on the finish, providing range and character. Just misses the tension and drive to be classic. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2029 through 2039. 10,000 cases made.

Jeb DUNNUCK

97

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/30/2023

The flagship 2020 Château Palmer checks in as 48% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot that's aged one year in 50-60% new barrels before moving to foudre. It's another ripe, sexy, yet incredibly pure wine from this team offering loads of black and blue fruits, some iris flower, spice, iron, and obvious mineral nuances, full-bodied richness, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It's easily one of the most opulent, sexiest wines from the Médoc, and while it's already just about impossible to resist, it deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and will evolve for 40+ years.

Jamessuckling.com

98

byJames Sucklingthe3/30/2023

Great aromas of blackcurrants, black truffles, blueberries, lead pencil and hints of cedar. Full-bodied and powerful with fantastic tannin backbone giving it great length and power. Muscular. Toned. Flexing. This needs time. Best after 2028.

The Wine Cellar Insider

98

byJeff Levethe3/22/2023

Violets, lilacs, and roses covet their spot in the perfume before you find all of its black, and red cherries, black currants, blackberries, cigar wrapper, and earthy notes. While the perfume is intoxicating, it is on the palate where the magic happens due to its silky, sexy-textures, and layers of pure, sweet, ripe, delicate, yet concentrated layers of fruit. The tannins are the text-book description of refined, leaving you with a seamless finish showcasing its purity, and sensuality for over 50 seconds. I have a sneaking suspicion that with time, my score is going to rise, as it feels like there is a lot more going on here that is still holding in reserve. Drink from 2027-2065.

Alexandre Ma

99

byAlexandre Mathe3/15/2023

Vinous

98

byAntonio Gallonithe2/24/2023

The 2020 Palmer is exceptional. Soft, seamless and ample, the Grand Vin caresses the palate with stunning depth and intensity. Super-ripe black cherry, licorice, cloves, menthol and chocolate meld together in the glass. As always, Palmer is made from blocks on gravelly/clay soils (as opposed to the more gravelly/sandy soils for Alter Ego) which gives the wines the breadth and creaminess to match its exotic personality. There is a restrained exuberance here that is so appealing.

Vinous

97

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2023

The 2020 Palmer was bottled in July with the lowest SO2 ever. It has an almost identical bouquet to the one I encountered from barrel last year, with black cherries and iodine, lovely floral scents, quintessentially Palmer from every angle. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins, plush yet structured with an underlying sapidity that comes through towards the finish. This just doesn't put a foot out of place - fabulous.

Yvesbeck.wine

98

byYves Beckthe1/3/2023

Si c'est la finesse qui prime sur Alter Ego, Palmer se distingue par sa fraîcheur et sa complexité.
Que de précision et de pluralité où se côtoient des nuances de pivoines, de craie et de baies
rouges complétées par des touches de graphite et de garrigues. Le vin se positionne avec clarté au
niveau du palais. Il sait créer l'harmonie en alliant le côté crémeux et suave des tannins avec le
tempérament affirmé de la structure acide.
D'une grande finesse, Palmer brille dans son aptitude à se projeter dans le temps en ouvrant des
fenêtres évoquant salinité et sapidité, mais également en signalant qu'il faudra savoir l'attendre ! Le
plaisir annoncé c'est déjà un crédit sur le compte dédié à l’hédonisme. On peut l'anticiper... puis le
savourer après un passage prolongé en cave ! 2027-2047

Wine Spectator

94

byJames Molesworththe11/30/2022

Nicely packed, with a mix of black currant, plum and blackberry compote flavors at the core, all supported by bay leaf, tobacco and roasted cedar notes. Shows good energy throughout, along with a swath of freshly plowed earth and an underlying hint of cast iron on the finish, providing range and character. Just misses the tension and drive to be classic. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2029 through 2039. 

TASTED

97

byAndreas Larssonthe7/6/2021

The wine already appears very open and complete, ripe and unctuous fruit with sweet plum, cassis some herbaceous sage and mint with tobacco notes, oak feels very well integrated and the palate has an impressive polish and definition, rounded and supple, almost a Burgundian texture, yet remaining distinctly Margaux with great complexity and very long persistency.

Vinous

96-98

byNeal Martinthe6/25/2021

The 2020 Palmer, which was matured in 65% new oak, possesses one of the most perfumed bouquets of the vintage with entrancing, seductive scents of black cherries, wild strawberry, iodine and crushed violets, all beautifully delineated (as per usual). The palate is medium-bodied with fine but quite firm tannins, lending this Palmer more backbone than presupposed. Blackberry, graphite and touches of liquorice develop with aeration that build towards an assertive, pencil box-tinged finish that nods towards Pauillac. This is a Palmer destined for long-term ageing, so readers should have a cool damp cellar handy. It is a serious Palmer, very different from the previous two vintages, not a mix of the two, but content in just being itself. 14.1% alcohol.

Anthocyanes

97-99

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Très floral, légèrement réduit avec des notes de cerise noire, de mure, de myrtille, de cassis avec une trame florale exceptionnelle. Étonnamment très syrah au nez. Très frais. En bouche, les tanins sont structurants mais très satinés, ciselés, frais et d'une grande race. La tension est magnifique et apporte une longueur impressionnante avec une fraicheur et une précision d'ensemble remarquable. L'impression de croquer du raisin malgré la densité importante. Un Palmer très singulier, qui fera date mais qui révèle un autre aspect de la propriété dans une facette très proche de son terroir.

Bernard Burtschy

98-99

byBernard Burtschythe5/10/2021

Falstaff

95-97

byPeter Moserthe5/10/2021

Ätherisch kräuterwürzig, dunkelbeerig, sehr reif-fruchtig und dabei makellos klar, Holunder und Brombeere, feuchter Kies. Im Mund eine enorme Tanninfracht aus sehr feinen Partikeln, mollig eingebettet, reife, integrierte Säure, ein kraftvoller Körper mit Volumen und Schmelz, lukullisch geradezu und opulent, mit salzigen Abgangsnoten, und mazertionsartigen Abgangsaromen von Tabak. Ein Brocken, in Watte gepackt.

My Bettane + Desseauve

97-98

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021

Decanter.com

97

byJane Ansonthe5/1/2021

Vivid colours, and the aromatics grab hold straight away. This is intense and concentrated, elegant, balanced and classical, all about the texture which is velvety and seductive with softly-grained tannins. Moves oh so slowly through the palate with dozens of layers to get hold of. The overall feel is precise, slow and seductive, with appellation and estate signature at every turn. Sappy, hawthorn freshness, rosemary, redcurrant, tobacco, cigar box and dark chocolate shavings on the finish. 3.77pH, 78IPT, 55% of overall production, with 13% press wine.