Palmer & Co Vintage 2002

Palmer & Co's vintage is always a subtle association of a particular climatic year and the Palmer style. Consisting exclusively of Grand and Premier Crus from the Montagne de Reims area, this champagne of rare complexity also has the typical charming elegance of Palmer & Co.

Weather: The 2002 growing season was a year full of positives that fostered ideal conditions for grapes full of maturity and acidity. A dry spring followed a mild winter which saw little frost; the grapes in summer matured alongside perfect weather conditions; and long dry and very hot days combined with cool nights reduced the potential for scorched grapes during the harvest. The resulting champagnes are bold, vibrant and packed full of ripe fruit characteristics: and Palmer & Co Brut Millésime 2002 is no exception.

News Article: Palmer & Co Brut Millésime 2002 placed fourth in our blind tasting comparison of 2008s and 2002s in June 2017. Read the full write-up here.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand & Premier Cru | Montagne de Reims
Grape Varieties: 50% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 5% Pinot Meunier
Ageing: 13 years on the lees
Disgorged: February 2016
Dosage: 8-9 g/l
Drink: Now to 2030+

Tasting Note: A vibrant yellow gold with aromas of fruits and citurs notes. Hints of apple and honeyed characteristics on the mid-palate. A creamy and fleshy mouth-feel is finely balanced with delicate citrus notes, which, combined with a long-lasting finish of ripe fruits, rightly gives the 2002 vintage all the praise it deserves. This is magnificent.

In 1947, seven well-established and visionary winegrowers came together in a joint quest for ultimate perfection and founded Champagne Palmer & Co. After a first decade of impressive growth, the founders bought the cellars of a Champagne House in Reims in 1959. Over the years, the cooperative has spread past Reims and now owns an impressive 450 hectares of vineyards, over 200 of which are classified Grand and Premier Crus.

Champagne Palmer & Co take full advantage of allowing their wines to mature for an exceptionally long time and their reserve wines are carefully blended to create a rich and toasty style. Uniquely, Palmer are one of the only producers to ferment all champagnes in the bottles they are sold in - from tiny half bottles to huge 15L Nebuchadnezzar's. In 2015, their range underwent a name change, to now include the term Réserve, which better represents their long ageing periods and inclusion of reserve wines.

Cellar Master: Xavier Berdin
Winery Location: Reims | Champagne, France
Champagne Region: Montagne de Reims
Annual Production (bottles): 700,000