Palmer - Margaux 2022

Alexandre Ma

97

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

The memory of tasting the 2022 En Primeur of Château Palmer is still vivid in my mind—a formidable wave of tannins, coupled with high alcohol, left me utterly adrift, unprepared for its sheer force. Yet, upon bottling, it revealed a surprisingly fluid elegance, its balance honed with remarkable precision. The tannins remain plentiful, but they, along with the 14.4% alcohol, are seamlessly cloaked in a texture akin to chilled black fruit juice—a display of extraordinary craftsmanship. The nose unfolds with rich, vividly defined aromas, beginning with the spiced allure of licorice, star anise, and cinnamon, before gracefully transitioning to the luscious depths of black mulberry, goji berries, and blackberry. The vintage’s smaller berries have resulted in a more robust tannic structure that redefines my understanding of Palmer’s traditional style. According to Thomas, achieving balance at such elevated alcohol levels often demands heightened polyphenol extraction, creating what he calls a “grand balance”—a concept that resonated deeply with me during the tasting. The finish, laced with a refined bitterness and the minerality of graphite, lends a profound and enduring complexity to a Palmer already brimming with power.

Wine Advocate

97

byWilliam Kelleythe3/7/2025

Thomas Duroux and his team opted to wait to pick the 2022 Palmer in pursuit of full maturity, taking advantage of the resilience of the estate's terroirs, and they have followed up with a brilliantly executed élevage that has retained pure, vivid flavors despite the wine's ripeness and unctuosity. Bursting with aromas of blackberries, crème de cassis, mulberries and violets, it's full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, with a sumptuous core of rich, fleshy fruit framed by sweet, powdery tannins, taking on more and more floral nuances as it sits in the glass. This is one of the Médoc's most sensual wines this year.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

96

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Mouthfilling, vivid blackberry and damson fruits, squid ink, cocoa bean, espresso, black coffee, crushed rose petals. Umami texture, with sea spray salinity on the finish, this is silky and knitted down, spice taking the place of acidity in the construction, skilful winemaking from director Thomas Duroux, yield 23hl/h.

The Wine Cellar Insider

99

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

Palmer, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

97

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

The Grand Vin 2022 Château Palmer is based on 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, from tiny yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare. It's a deep, unctuous, fabulously textured 2022 that does everything right. Ripe blackcurrants, blueberries, liquid violets, and freshly sharpened pencil notes define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a pure, layered, seamless mouthfeel, a remarkable floral character, and a great finish. It's a ripe, opulent, incredibly sexy Palmer that will benefit from a decade of bottle age and evolve gracefully over the following 30-40 years.

Yvesbeck.wine

100

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot Palmer 2022 affiche de la profondeur, d'entrée, avec un bouquet aux nombreuses facettes favorisant subtilité, pluralité et fraîcheur. Les nuances de baies rouges et noires assorties à des notes de pivoines, de garrigues ainsi qu'une touche de fèves de cacao soulignent la complexité olfactive. L'attaque poursuit dans la même logique que le bouquet ; elle ouvre la voie à un vin élégant, précis, profond et scintillant. Il dispose d'une source énergétique qui semble inépuisable, tant elle lui confère éclat, luminosité et définition avec des tannins précis, musclés, dignes d'un marathonien disposé à courir au moins deux marathons à la suite. Ces tannins offrent de la vigueur et de la fraîcheur, communément avec de fins amers qui cautionnent l'expression et la persistance de la finale tout en assurant la fraîcheur au travers d'une touche saline. Un Palmer exceptionnel qui a beaucoup de temps devant lui tout en offrant une large fenêtre de dégustation. Entendez par là que l'on pourra le savourer jeune et nettement moins jeune ! 2027-2052 100/100

Vinous

97

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Palmer is an absolute peach on the nose, with exquisite aromatic delineation pure black fruit laced with crushed stone and light, almost flinty aromas. The aromatics show a sense of control, crafted in a less opulent style than expected from a warm season or compared to recent Palmer vintages. The medium-bodied palate features fine tannins and a killer line of acidity; Thomas Duroux mentioned the pH is fairly high at 3.80. This wine is extremely precise, with no excess and an unapologetic linear finish. You would never suspect it comes from one of the hottest summers ever. Outstanding.

Jamessuckling.com

98

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

Lots of creme de cassis with cedar, dried flowers, blackberries and dark cherries. Opulent and flamboyant. Full-bodied and layered, this grows with plush, velvety tannins that caress every inch of your palate. Extremely long and attractive in the finish. Well-designed in this ripe year. 51% merlot, 45% cabernet sauvignon, and 4% petit verdot. Best after 2029.

Vinous

98

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Palmer is all class. Blackberry, mocha, spice, leather and espresso all meld together in a seamless, elegant Palmer that impresses with its sublime balance. All the elements are impeccably put together throughout. The only thing this is missing is perhaps a touch more energy. Even so, the 2022 is an exceptional Palmer. Yields were a minuscule 22 hectoliters per hectare. Small berries yielded a deep wine that needs time to fully emerge. As has been the case for a few years now, both Palmer and Alter Ego spend a year in small barrel and a second year in wood, a majority of that (65%) in cask.

Wine Spectator

97

byJames Molesworththe1/27/2025

Expressive and well-delineated, with singed iris, ink and alder accents leading off, followed by dark currant, blackberry and black cherry paste flavors that are both lush and racy in feel. Warm paving stone and dark tobacco gird the finish, which has ample structure for the cellar, Shows the floral lift and showy fruit of the vintage married to a growl of real terroir. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2027 through 2050. 8,000 cases made.

Wine Maniacs

96-98

byLin Liuthe5/30/2023

Decanter.com

97

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Sharp, energetic, racy and electric. The power and concentration is evident in the dark, rich, concentrated fruit with tannins that grip and take hold with a crushed stone texture, liquorice, graphite, tobacco and cool mint spice. The expression is exceptionally delineated with focus and push from start to finish. Quite bold and charged, but I love the succulence, the perfumed fruit, chalky sensation and overall sense of confidence. In high definition in terms of sharpness and tang to the fruit. A big wine but delivered with poise. 3.79pH. 13% press wine. Harvest took one month from 7 September to 5 October. 70% grand vin, 30% Alter Ego.

Alexandre Ma

96-97

byAlexandre Mathe5/17/2023

Château Palmer 2022 is like a dense yet restrained ink painting. Its aroma is both rich and defined. Beginning with the pungent spiciness of licorice, star anise, and cinnamon, it gradually converts to the intense fruity notes of black mulberry, black goji berry, and blackberry. The small berries and robust tannins are far exceeding my impressions of Château Palmer. The Winemaker Thomas told me that, when alcohol content is high, it requires extracting more polyphenols to create a large balance, which is exactly what I discovered during my tasting. A hint of bitterness and a graphite-like finish lead me to believe that it will become even more velvety after bottling.

Vinous

96-98

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Palmer was cropped at just 22hL/ha due to the berries being 25-30% smaller than usual. It bursts forth on the nose with precocious black cherries, blueberry, violet and touches of marmalade and tobacco in the background. Complex and expressive. The palate is structured, with the tannic backbone, that winemaker Thomas Duroux talked about, lending this Palmer a sense of verticality. Hints of black pepper emerge with time, multi-layered, a powerful Margaux and yet the IPT is actually lower than elsewhere (76). Quite linear on the tobacco-infused finish, which is just quintessential Palmer. Do reserve a bin in your cellar for this and let it gather dust for at least a decade. 14.4% alcohol.

The Vintage Journal

98-99

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Deep crimson. Intense dark chocolate, blackcurrant, blackberry, roasted chestnut aromas. Generous and inky with plentiful sweet dark berry fruits, fine savoury chalky tannins, lovely viscosity, integrated marzipan/nougat oak and superb mineral length. Sweet fruits at the finish. Beautiful wine with superb definition and vinosity. 45% Merlot, 51% Cabernet Sauvignon 4% Peit Verdot.

matthewjukes.com

19,5

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

96-98

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

Composed of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Palmer is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a lot of shaking and swirling to lure out a soft-spoken perfume of roses, lavender, star anise, and cloves, leading to a profound core of Morello cherries, fresh, juicy blackberries, and blackcurrant cordial. The full-bodied palate is stacked with layer upon layer of black, blue, and red fruits, supported by a skyscraper structure of very firm, very ripe, grainy tannins and superb tension, finishing with epic length and depth. This is a monumental achievement. pH 3.79.

Yvesbeck.wine

98-100

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

La fraîcheur fruitée couplée à des notes de garrigues ; le Dreamteam de 2022 que l'on retrouve d'une propriété à l'autre. Dans le cas de Palmer, je relève des nuances de mûres et de menthe poivrée ainsi que des effluves de thym. L'attaque est crémeuse et friande. Le vin insinue une sorte de sucrosité qui lui est conférée par des tannins suaves. Ces derniers sont d'une rare puissance et se révèlent de manière progressive. Ils incarnent parfaitement la notion de force tranquille et sont en phase avec le côté incisif de la structure acide, bien aiguisée de surcroît, qui apporte une part de salinité, donc de la fraîcheur. Le vin me semble encore renfermé sur lui-même, donc il n'arrive pas à entièrement se dévoiler, par contre il annonce de la finesse, de la puissance et de la persistance. Et pour conclure, la finale se décide à relater les fruits annoncés par le bouquet. La boucle est bouclée. Un très grand Palmer.

Bettane & Desseauve

98

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Sublime premier coup de nez, d’une intensité et d’une complexité qui a fait notre admiration, grand corps et velouté de texture, longue suite en bouche. Un des sommets du millésime en Médoc.

Jeb DUNNUCK

97-99

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

The 2022 Château Palmer is utterly brilliant, so much so that I questioned in my notes if this would challenge the 2018. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, from tiny yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare, its mammoth-sized personality offers layers of blue and black fruits, notes of melted chocolate, crushed stone, and spring flowers, building, velvety tannins, and a great, great finish. While many estates commented that they extracted less in the vintage, Palmer went in a different direction and extracted more during the vinifications to provide a solid backbone to match the concentration and power of the vintage. It appears to have worked brilliantly, and hats off to Thomas Duroux for having the confidence to go his own path. He has produced a truly Grand Vin in 2022. The alcohol here is a normal 14.4%, and the pH is a healthy 3.79.

Vinous

96-98

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Palmer is a wine of sublime beauty and refinement. Silky, caressing and super-expressive, the 2022 is also one of the most surprising wines of the year in that it does not show the drought or heat of the growing season at all either in its flavor profile or feel. Succulent black cherry, plum, leather, licorice, spice and dried herbs lend notable complexity throughout. The 2022 starts off rather slow, and then really explodes on the back end. It is a magnificent wine in every way. Drinking window : 2030-2052

The Wine Cellar Insider

97-99

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

With a dark, radiating purple, black hue, the wine explodes from the glass with its bouquet of lilacs, violets, roses, white flowers, cinnamon, and clove perfume. The wine is pure silk in texture, blending its salty, minerality with sweetness in the black and red fruits. But here, it its the texture, length, and purity in the fruits that stand out. The elegant, sensuous finish moves from red to black to red, with a refreshing mint note that holds your focus for over 50 seconds. The wine blends 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. 14.4% ABV, 3.79 Ph. The harvest took place September 7 - October 5, making this one of the longer harvests at Palmer. Yields are a scant 22 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2027-2065.

Wine Advocate

95-97

byWilliam Kelleythe5/2/2023

As is the case at neighbor Château Margaux, the 2022 Palmer is one of the most powerful wines this estate has ever produced. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, it offers up aromas of blackberries, burning embers, violets, iris and sweet soil tones, followed by a full-bodied, broad and expansive palate, its velvety attack segueing into a rich and layered core. Supple, seamless and concentrated, it checks in at 14.4% alcohol and a rather high pH of 3.79.

Jamessuckling.com

98-99

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

So much class in the nose with a sophisticated kaleidoscope of dark fruit such as blackcurrants, and spices such as salt and pepper, as well as cloves and nutmeg. Full-bodied. Compacted and dense yet weightless. It opens beautifully. The tannins go on and on with wonderful presence. Salty undertones.