Previously known as the Château de Gascq, this estate inherited its name from Major General Charles Palmer the owner who really set up the domaine in the 19th century. Château Palmer’s terroir dates from the Quaternary period, when gravel slowly accumulated on the Left Bank of the Gironde. This gravel was pushed by the Dordogne and carried along by the Garonne. The two rivers meet a few kilometres downstream from Château Palmer to form the Gironde estuary. The vines cover 52 hectares immediately to the South of Château Margaux. The gravely soil together with excellent underground drainage and well exposed slopes produces an excellent wine.

Grape varieties are 47 percent Cabernet-Sauvignon, 47 percent Merlot (which is very high for a Margaux) and 6 percent Petit Verdot. Each year the estate produces about 250,000 bottles of this delicate, subtle and perfumed wine, which gains in body and smoothness with aging. Château Palmer is recognised as the only Margaux wine that can be compared to Château Margaux itself. Since 1998, Château Palmer has also produced Alter Ego, which is faithful to the Palmer style but will reach maturity earlier.