Château Palmer Margaux 2012 is one of the standout wines of the vintage, showcasing the elegance, depth, and sensual character that have made this iconic Third Growth estate one of Bordeaux's most sought-after names. A blend of 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot, it offers captivating aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, cherry, violet, cedar, sweet spice, and fine oak. The palate is rich and silky, balancing generous dark fruit with vibrant freshness, refined tannins, and remarkable precision. Now entering an excellent drinking window, this beautifully layered Margaux will continue to evolve gracefully for decades, making it an exceptional choice for collectors and lovers of classic Bordeaux.

James Suckling | JS 97
Published: Feb 9, 2015

This is mind-blowing with complex and superb aromas of dried flowers, blackcurrants and raspberries. Full-bodied, yet polished and velvety with lots of tension and intensity. Layers of fruit and character. Finishes with pure fruit, hazelnuts and minerals. About 20 hectares of 55 hectares were from biodynamically grown grapes. Try in 2022. Stunning.

The Wine Advocate | RP 95
Published: Sep 22, 2022
Drink: 2022-2045 

The 2012 Palmer is already offering demonstrative drinking at age 10, bursting with aromas of cherries, blackberries, violets and spices, framed by a lavish application of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, ample and enveloping, it's fleshy and sensual, with a deep and layered core of fruit that's discreetly underpinned by succulent acids and sweet, powdery tannins. Concentrated, broad and persistent, this is one of the most successful wines of the vintage, as well as one of the most dramatic. Thomas Duroux is crafting more integrated, less overtly oaky wines at Palmer today, but this 2012 is nonetheless a terrific effort.

Château Palmer now systematically holds back an important percentage of its production for later release, and this September it's the turn of the 2012, a dramatic, sensual wine that is one of the clear successes of the vintage.

Wine Enthusiast | WE 95
Published: May 1, 2015

With great depth of fruit, this plush, ripe wine also has dense tannins for aging, layers of acidity and a tight structure. However, it's the fruit that makes this wine, with its waves of black currants and aromatic blueberries. The wood just touches the flavors to promise serious aging. Drink from 2022. — Roger Voss

Decanter | D 94
Published: Mar 3, 2022
Drink: 2027-2042

Rich, generous, plummy fruit, with concentrated flavour and considerable tannin that makes its development an unknown quantity. Will all the elements marry? Keep for five years and hope.
Closure: Natural Cork
Body: Full
Grapes: 46% Cabernet Sauvignon 48% Merlot 6% Petit Verdot

Chateau-palmer.com

Three periods: a rainy spring, a sunny summer, a wet fall. Two characteristics: exuberant Merlots on one side, and precise, linear Cabernet Sauvignons on the other. Two vintages in one: a happy marriage for a richly balanced wine.

The main characteristic of the vintage is that of an unusual contrast between spring, summer, and early fall. The cool, damp weather from April to June brought about a late yet heterogeneous budding. Flowering also presented the same features. Taking place in unfavorable conditions it resulted in a high percentage of coulure in our oldest Merlots. The risk of developing diseases was high and required our continuous attention.  

In summer, the weather changed completely. In late June, the sun began to shine and temperatures finally rose. Ripening began on July 23, heralding a late vintage. It hardly rained in August or during the first three weeks of September. These particularly favorable conditions, due to the lack of water and nitrogen, enabled the vine to focus its energy on developing phenolic compounds and therefore produce high quality grapes. The weather took another turn for the worse during the final week of September. The harvest was intense, taking place between October 1 and 15 without interruption and in wet conditions. The Botrytis pressure was constant. However, low yields helped maintain healthy conditions around the bunches.

The rich, exuberant Merlots were reminiscent of the finest vintages of the first decade of the 2000s. The Cabernet Sauvignons were linear, precise, and in keeping with the 2008 grapes. This unusual marriage harmoniously highlighted the smoothness, elegance, and refinement of Château Palmer wines.

MERLOT 48%
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 46%
PETIT VERDOT 6%