Château Palmer Margaux 1855 3ième Cru 2003

Intense spice, majoring on smoked earth, pink pepper and black truffle notes, the fruit is softened, heading towards raspberry puree, crème de mure and fig. Plenty of freshness, with orange peel and graphite adding structure and texture. Soft rose petal colour around the edges shows the evolution overall, but there is still so much pleasure to be had here, and at least another decade of drinking. One of those vintages when you can really see the benefit that Bordeaux gets from being able to blend – far less Merlot was used in this wine than usual, because of the unusually high levels of ripeness and sugar that was found in the grape after the long hot summer (with temperatures reguarly breaking 40C during June, July and August). Harvest September 8 to 20, 60% new oak.