Palmer & Co Vintage 2002 Champagne 1.5L

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

Gift Wrapping & Cards - choose these at checkout.

Gift Wrapping: Make your champagne gift even more luxurious with pearlised wrapping paper - select a colour at checkout for £4.95 per bottle.

Greetings Cards: Personalise your gift with a handwritten message - choose your preferred card at checkout for £3.50.

In 1947, seven well-established and visionary winegrowers came together in a joint quest for ultimate perfection and founded Champagne Palmer & Co. All owners of Premier and Grand Cru vineyards in the areas of the Montagne de Reims, their terroirs collaborated with excellence, creating a unique style of wines that was rapidly recognised in the region.

After experiencing a first decade of impressive growth, the original founders bought the cellars of a Champagne House in Reims in 1959, establishing Palmer & Co as a respected player in the appellation. Over time, they gradually acquired other facilities as the opportunities arose, laying the foundations for future development.

From 1970 onwards, the House started to look beyond the original owners’ vineyards and began sourcing their grapes from other great terroirs in the Champagne area. This continued through the end of the 20th Century and today Palmer & Co encompasses a total of 415 hectares of vineyards, comprising around 40 crus in the Montagne de Reims, with over 200 hectares classified as Grand and Premier Crus.

This continued growth led to a chronic lack of space at Palmer & Co and in 1997, the solution presented itself in the acquisition of a huge cellar/winery neighbouring Palmer’s HQ in Reims. As such, they now have two major sites in the heart of the Champagne capital and have established themselves as one of the most respected producers in the region.

Champagne Palmer offers great value for money as an alternative to some of the Grandes Marques and is still yet to realise its true potential, as demonstrated by its recent inclusion in Tom Stevenson’s “Top 5 Most Underrated Champagnes.” Uniquely, they are one of the few House’s that still produce champagne in the monumental 15-litre Nebuchadnezzar.