Château Palmer 2011 – Margaux 3ème Grand Cru Classé

The wine benefits from being decanted. The nose is tightly wound and offers concentration with finesse, nice power/intensity of grain as well as complexity. There are notes of fleshy blackberry, fleshy strawberry and more slightly racy/seedy minerality combined with hints of Cuben pepper, sense of place (biotop), fine spice notes, discreet blond tobacco nuances and a subtle hint of flowers and cinnamon. The palate is nicely fresh, delicate and offers minerality, juiciness, a certain verticality, a controlled concentration, a nice tannic structure, a nice mellowness, a racy power, a fine airy side in the approach as well as a fine unctuosity and subtlety. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fresh/juicy boysenberry, purple plum and more slightly of crunchy blackcurrant combined with touches of racy minerality, toasted/crushed hazelnut, a subtle, almost bergamot-like, serenity (in the background) as well as discreet hints of vanilla and nutmeg. The tannins are smooth and elegant. Subtle hints of incense and flowers on the finish. Sapidity on the finish.