Palmer 2007

2007 : A Demanding Vintage

Winegrowers will remember 2007 as a particularly arduous year because of the considerable work it required, from the beginning of the growing season through to the harvest.

Weather conditions and the vines' growth cycle

Bud break began early, at the end of March, after a rather mild and damp winter. An exceptionally hot and dry April followed, giving the vines a ten-day head start on their usual growth. From the end of April until the end of August, the weather was generally cool and damp.

The véraison or colour change began early, on 14th July, but took longer than usual, especially for the Cabernets.

The cool, damp conditions continued until the end of August, requiring constant vigilance to prevent mildew from developing.

The end of August brought a dry period with particularly strong winds. This was a real lifesaver, and lasted until the end of the harvest, favouring the ripening of the grapes and improving their concentration.

As with the flowering and colour change, the dates of peak maturity varied widely, obliging a long and meticulous harvest.

Comparing 2007 to the past decade

Temperatures

Rainfall

Even though the summer of 2007 was cool and damp, the total rainfall was lower than preceding years, in particular due to the lack of the thunderstorms that usually mark our Médoc summers.

Total Rainfall from April to September:

2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	30 Year Average
396	362	307	298	314	193	269	327	379

2007 at Palmer

Ripening conditions for the grapes

We will always remember this year's pitched battle against mildew, a constant source of stress.

Removal of secondary shoots and bunch thinning, which took place from mid-June through July, allowed us to maintain a good aeration in the clusters.

The weather remained cool at the end of July, so we responded in most areas of the vineyard by painstakingly thinning the leaves around the clusters, letting the berries enjoy a maximum exposure to sunlight.

At the end of August, our first tastings of the grapes showed that they already had an excellent aromatic potential.

September began on a pleasant note, with the arrival of an east wind that concentrated the berries and accelerated their ripening.

The harvest began on the first parcels of Merlot on 20th September, following three weeks of beautiful weather, with cool mornings and mild, sunny afternoons.

The Harvest

This was surely the longest harvest in the history of Château Palmer!

We have never before seen such a wide variation in the dates of peak maturity for different parcels. It required considerable patience to manage the vineyard - beginning during the summer with the removal of secondary shoots, bunch thinning and leaf thinning - to get the most out of each vine. At times, we felt like a custom tailor with hundreds of finicky customers.

The Merlot harvest took place from 20th September to 2nd October.

The sunny weather continued while we brought in the Cabernet, finishing on 12th October.

Yield

34 hl/ha

Fermentation

The need for rigorous attention did not end with the harvest. Depending on the characteristics of each batch of fruit, and the wine to be produced (Château Palmer or Alter Ego), we fine-tuned fermentation temperature, pumping over, and the length of time spent on the skins. The alcohol content is about 12.5% by volume.

Grape Varieties:

Château Palmer	Merlot	49%
	Cabernet Sauvignon	44%
	Petit Verdot	7%

Alter Ego	Merlot	60%
Alter Ego	Cabernet Sauvignon	40%

Château PALMER, March 16, 2008.

Area under vine: 50 hectares
Grape varieties : 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot