Palate
They were full of charm, with good body and very ripe fruit from the very beginning. Despite the heat wave, the 2003 wines of Château Palmer reflect their prestigious terroir and will undoubtedly reveal the exceptional quality of this vintage over time.
Growing Conditions
A vintage to beat all records. Firstly, there was the heat wave and its record-breaking temperatures, the highest in the region for 150 years. Secondly, there was the hasty harvest, the earliest since 1989. Yet together they produced an atypical, yet great wine.
This extraordinary vintage was characterised by several periods of very hot weather, with temperatures reaching 40°C / 104°F and higher in June, July, and August. Such long- lasting, extremely hot weather broke records going back 150 years. Although the overall level of rainfall was low, and this dryness accentuated the effects of the heat, 2003 will be remembered above all for its tropical summer temperatures. This resulted in a low yield of small grapes with thick skins. The 2003 harvest was the earliest in 60 years, with the exception of 1989.
Harvest
The harvest started with Merlot grapes on the 8th September, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon on the 16th, and finished with Petit Verdot on the 20th.
Winemaking
Fermentation was conducted with the greatest of care because of the high degree of ripeness and sugar levels in the Merlot grapes. Relatively short maceration (17 days) made it possible to retain the wines’ freshness and balance.
