Château Palmer 1947

Château Palmer 1947

1. Château Palmer – A Profile

Château Palmer is one of Bordeaux’s most famous estates. It is situated in the Margaux-Cantenac appellation, right next to the famous Château Margaux on the ‘Route du Vin’. In the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, the estate is classified as a Troisième Grand Cru Classé – yet this official classification belies its true quality: Château Palmer regularly rivals the Premiers and Deuxièmes Crus in terms of quality and is regarded as one of the two most significant ‘Third Growths’ of all. Connoisseurs place the wine on a par with the so-called ‘Super Seconds’ such as Château Léoville-las-Cases or Château Cos d’Estournel .

The history of the estate dates back to the early 18th century, when the estate was known as Domaine de Gascq and its wines were already being served at the court of Versailles. The decisive turning point came on 16 June 1814, when British Major-General Charles Palmer – a career officer, aide-de-camp to the Prince Regent and later a member of the British House of Commons – purchased the estate for 100,000 francs. Palmer consolidated scattered vineyards and lands into a coherent estate and gave it his name – he was thus not merely a buyer, but the true founder of today’s Château.

Following the First World War and the Great Depression, the Pereire family, the owners, were forced to part with Château Palmer. In1938 , a consortium of major wine-trading families – including Fernand Ginestet, the Miailhe brothers, Mähler-Besse and Sichel – took over the estate. In 1950, the Sichel and Mähler-Besse families became sole owners, a status they retain to this day.

The main building at Château Palmer is one of the finest in the Médoc, with tall turrets at each corner of the château. The distinctive midnight-blue label makes the wine instantly recognisable. The estate’s second wine is now called Alter Ego de Palmer (previously known asRéserve de General ).

2. The 1947 vintage – between legend and controversy

The 1947 vintage is one of the most famous and, at the same time, most controversial vintages of the 20th century. Together with 1945 and 1949, it forms the legendary trio of the immediate post-war years.

The weather was exceptional: from May onwards, mild conditions persisted, with each month warmer than the last. The official start of the harvest was set for 15 September. However, the prolonged, warm Indian summer posed major challenges for the châteaux: There were hardly any ways to regulate the temperatures during fermentation. The heat resulted in grapes with an extremely high sugar content and correspondingly high alcohol levels – the 1947 Château Palmer is reported to have an alcohol content of 13 per cent – a remarkable figure for that time.

Wine critic Robert Parker described the 1947 vintage as proof that late-harvested grapes form the foundation of great wines. The 1947 Cheval Blanc is repeatedly cited as a prime example, but Parker noted that the success of this vintage was by no means limited to the Right Bank – world-class wines were also produced on the Left Bank.

3. Tasting notes and critics’ ratings

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate)

Robert Parker counted Château Palmer amongst his ‘magic 20’ Bordeaux wines and awardedthe 1947 Palmer 94/100 points. He described it as one of the finest Château Palmer wines he had ever tasted. In his *Bordeaux Book*, Parker highlighted the remarkably deep colour as well as aromas of red berries, sloes and fresh figs, accompanied by a “quasi-vintage port-like richness”.

CellarTracker – Community ratings

The wine community on CellarTracker awards the 1947 Château Palmer an average of 95 points. One tasting note describes leather, graphite and well-preserved fruit aromas, complemented by red raspberry, acidity and tannins. Another tasting note refers to an opulent and warm nose with light floral and perfumed notes.

WineDecider

The WineDecider platform gives an average rating of 89/100 points.

Tasting experience from 2016

A detailed tasting from 2016 – the wine was 69 years old at the time – describes the 1947 Château Palmer as follows:

“Opulent and warm on the nose with light floral and perfumed notes. On the palate, clean and distinct notes of cherry, mint and sweetness emerge. A medium-length finish, which is remarkable for its age. The wine was at its best around 55–75 minutes after the bottle was opened and then quickly faded, developing alcoholic notes.”

This observation highlights that a wine of this age isparticularly sensitive to oxygen and that its drinking window can sometimes last only a few minutes.

4. Rarity and market prices

The 1947 Château Palmer is extremely raretoday – bottles of this age are now in very few hands and appear only occasionally at auction or in specialist shops. Prices vary greatly depending on the bottle’s condition, fill level and the quality of the label.

Auction results

At Christie’s, a magnum bottle (1.5 litres) of the 1947 Château Palmer achieved a hammer price of GBP 1,045. Another lot comprising two magnum bottles was estimated at Sotheby’s at 26,000–35,000 HKD (approx. 3,000–4,000 €).

Prices for bottles of this age depend heavily on their condition – factors such as liquid level (‘base of neck’, ‘top shoulder’, etc.), label condition and cork quality have a significant influence on value.

5. Place in Palmer’s history

Throughout its history, Château Palmer has produced a number of legendary vintages. The 1961 and 1989 vintages are generally regarded as the finest wines ever produced. The 1961 vintage was rated as a perfect wine by Robert Parker, who awarded it 100 Parker points – as early as 2005, a bottle of this vintage was rarely available for less than 1,200 euros.

The 1947 Palmer ranks amongstthis elite group of great vintages . Whilst it may not quite be on a par with the legendary 1961, it is nonetheless regarded as one of the most outstanding wines the Château has ever produced. Parker himself counted it amongst the ‘magical 20’ Bordeaux wines – a distinction bestowed upon only a few vintages.

6. Conclusion

The Château Palmer 1947 is far more than just an old wine – it is a testament to the history of viticulture, a product of one of the most extreme and, at the same time, most fascinating vintages of the 20th century. The exceptional warmth of 1947 endowed the grapes with a concentration and richness that is rarely achieved to this extent. The opulent fruit, the deep colour and the almost port-like richness make it a truly unique wine.

With ratings ranging from 89 to 95 points (depending on the critic) and prices now exceeding US$1,000 per bottle, the 1947 Palmer is a highly sought-after collector’s item – and , for many wine lovers , a wine one should have tasted at least once in a lifetime. Its rarity and high demand make it a worthwhile investment for collectors who are lucky enough to acquire a bottle in good condition.

However, as with all wines of this age, every bottle is unique. The storage conditions over the past decades, the condition of the cork and individual variations between bottles can significantly affect the drinking experience – and that is precisely what makes the hunt for a perfectly preserved bottle of the 1947 Château Palmer so appealing.