In 1947, seven well-established and visionary winegrowers came together in a joint quest for ultimate perfection and founded Champagne Palmer & Co. The founders bought its current cellars from a failing 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. A large percentage of Palmer's vineyards are in the Montagne de Reims giving Palmer a unique source of chardonnay in these cooler aspect locations, Blanc de Blancs being one of the stars in the Palmer portfolio. Palmer are one of few producers to ferment large formats, everything bigger than Jeroboam, in the final bottle and up to Nebuchadnezzar, 15 litres, are made in this way.
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 weather in 2008 began unremarkably with a mild winter, plenty of rain and patches of frost. The early summer spells were relatively cold which delayed flowering. However, prolonged August sunshine saw long, hot days combine with cooler nights to produce grapes of perfect acidity and ripeness. A harvest that is only just emerging on the market but is already being compared to 2002, this is sure to be one of the vintages of the decade.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand & Premier Cru | Montagne de Reims
Grape Varieties: 50% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 10% Meunier
Ageing: 6-8 years on the lees
Dosage: 8-9 g/l
Drink: Now to 2028
Tasting Note: A bright yellow colour with aromas of ripe citrus and peaches. There is an underlying nuttiness that is evident on the palate. A vibrant and acidic mouth-feel is balanced with ripe fruits and a slightly creamy texture. The layers of complexity last throughout the long lingering finish. A great example of this fantastic vintage.
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.
In 2019 Champagner Palmer opened its new modern winery symbolising Palmer’s respect for sustainable development, being just the second in Champagne, alongside Moët & Chandon’s facility in the Côte des Bar, to be certified HQE (High Environmental Quality).
Chef de Cave History at Champagne Deutz:
Xavier Berdin 2003 to present: The Cellar Master and his 4 oenologists are guardians of the Palmer & Co style, passionately watching over the wines of yesterday, today and tomorrow with unrelenting vigilance.
Michel Davesne 1985 to 2003: After a high school diploma in sciences, preparatory classes at the Lycée Clémenceau in Reims, and then the University of Compiègne, he became an engineer in biotechnology. Then followed posts at first Goyard, then at the CIVC*. In 1985, Champagne Palmer took him on as chief winemaker. He learned much at the co-operative, much of the practical part on the job. He passed his Diploma in Oenology, and spent in all some 18 years there before moving to Champagne Deutz in 2003. All the magnificent Collection champagnes being released from 2018 to present from the 80's and 90's show what a genius winemaker Michel was.
Winery Location: Reims | Champagne, France
Champagne Region:
Montagne de Reims
Annual Production (bottles): 700,000