Château Palmer 1996 is a mature Cabernet Sauvignon-based red wine from the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux. Château Palmer is a Third Growth Margaux estate with a history stretching back to the 17th century. Today the estate covers approximately 52 hectares and is managed by Thomas Duroux. 1996 is widely acknowledged as best year for the wines of the Médoc since 1990. The vintage was a memorably successful one for Château Palmer. The assemblage was 40% Merlot, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot.
Score 91/100 · Robert Parker
This wine, a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, is performing well after its July, 1998 bottling. It boasts an impressively saturated purple color, in addition to a backward yet intense nose of black plums, currants, licorice, and smoke. Following terrific fruit on the attack, the wine's structure and tannin take over. There is plenty of sweet fruit, and the tannin is well-integrated, but the wine requires 7-8 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2028. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate # 122
