2013 Palmer

Unusual richness on the nose. Sweet palate entry and almost massaged texture. Whereas the Rauzan-Ségla seems to spring from the vineyard, this seems perhaps to owe its attraction to what happened in the cellar – but I may of course be 100% wrong! Lightish body and tea-leaf flavour. Tannins much in evidence on the drying end. (JR)

Steps up to take its place alongside the 2013s that are retaining a sense of shape and form. Delivers raspberry, tomato leaf, pomegrante, saffron, sage, appealing layers of flavour, and a delicate studding of minerality. Lacks the concentration for true estate signature, but taken alongside the other 2013s it is successful. No need to wait to drink, even here. Biodynamic farming across most of the vineyard at this point, the last year before full 100% conversion. 60% new oak.

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.