Chateau Paloumey Haut Medoc Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Paloumey Chateau

Learn everything about Chateau Paloumey Haut Medoc with wine tasting notes and wine-with-food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, and information on their vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Paloumey History, Overview

Chateau Paloumey has a long history in the Medoc. But after years of no attention to its vines, due to financial difficulties, by the mid-1950s, the vineyard was abandoned by its owners, because the upkeep was too expensive. The modern era of Chateau Paloumey began in 1990 when the estate was purchased by the Cazeneuve family.

At the time of the purchase, the entire property needed a complete renovation and the vineyards required complete replanting. The Cazeneuve family was already experienced in owning vineyards when they bought the property, as they had previously owned Chateau MaineGazin in what is now the Cotes de Blaye appellation a few years earlier. Chateau Paloumey is owned and managed by Martine Cazeneuve today.

Tragedy struck Chateau Paloumey in January 2020, when the chateau was destroyed by a fire. The cellars and vineyards were not harmed. However, the chateau sustained severe damage and needed to be reconstructed.

Chateau Paloumey Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 36.4-hectare Left Bank vineyard is planted to 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Chateau Paloumey is located in the commune of Ludon. This is close to the southern end of the Medoc, not far from Chateau La Lagune and Chateau Cantemerle.

Their specific location gives them a warmer micro-climate, allowing them to harvest a bit earlier than their neighbors. The terroir is gravel, sand, clay, and limestone soils with vines divided into two main sections. Since 1995, Chateau Paloumey has practiced self-sustainable vineyard management techniques.

The wine of Chateau Paloumey is vinified in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. The wine is then aged in 30% new, French oak barrels for about 12 months before bottling. There is a second wine, Les Ailes de Paloumey. On average, the annual production at Chateau Paloumey is close to 24,000 cases of wine.

The best vintages of Chateau Paloumey are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, 2009, and 2005.

The Cazeneuve family also produces wine at Chateau Le Besanne in Margaux, Chateau La Garricq in Moulis, and Chateau Haut Carmaillet in the Haut Medoc appellation. Chateau Garricq comes from a small, 3-hectare parcel of vines with a large percentage of Petit Verdot.

When to Drink Chateau Paloumey, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Paloumey can be decanted for an average of 1 hour or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Paloumey is usually better with 2-4 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Paloumey offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 3-12 years of age after the vintage.

Serving and Decanting Chateau Paloumey with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Paloumey is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The wine of Chateau Paloumey is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau Paloumey is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

www.chateaupaloumey.com

Château Paloumey Wine Tasting Notes

15 Vintages 50,886 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022
89
Round, sweet, and forward, with a licorice and plummy, espresso driven, fresh personality. You still find an oaky character that needs to integrate with time. Drink from 2025-2036. 88-90 Pts.

Round, sweet, and forward, with a licorice and plummy, espresso driven, fresh personality. You still find an oaky character that needs to integrate with time. Drink from 2025-2036. 88-90 Pts.

2,070 Views   Tasted
2021
90
Smoke, burnt wood, cedar chest and bright red fruits pop in the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, earthy, fruity and creamy on the palate. This is quite strong for the vintage. Drink from 2024-2034.

Smoke, burnt wood, cedar chest and bright red fruits pop in the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, earthy, fruity and creamy on the palate. This is quite strong for the vintage. Drink from 2024-2034.

186 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, with a savory, herbal accent to the flowers and red fruits in the nose, the wine finishes with a touch of menthol along with its crisp, cranberry and peppery red currants, Drink from 2023-2029. 87-89

Medium-bodied, with a savory, herbal accent to the flowers and red fruits in the nose, the wine finishes with a touch of menthol along with its crisp, cranberry and peppery red currants, Drink from 2023-2029. 87-89

1,485 Views   Tasted
2020
90
Medium-bodied, soft, fresh and almost polished, with loads of spice, flowers and soft, creamy red fruits that will be perfect for enjoyment in its youth. The wine blends 54% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2023-2032.

Medium-bodied, soft, fresh and almost polished, with loads of spice, flowers and soft, creamy red fruits that will be perfect for enjoyment in its youth. The wine blends 54% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2023-2032.

634 Views   Tasted
2020
88
Dark red berries, with a hint of peppery spice and some oak that needs to integrate a bit better, the wine is medium-bodied, bright, crisp and juicy, with a stony, firm finish. Drink from 2024-2035.

Dark red berries, with a hint of peppery spice and some oak that needs to integrate a bit better, the wine is medium-bodied, bright, crisp and juicy, with a stony, firm finish. Drink from 2024-2035.

1,056 Views   Tasted
Peppery, dark red berries, medium-bodied, soft, polished, forward and already accessible, the wine is packed with sweet and savory herbs and a stony, firm finish. 87-89 Pts

Peppery, dark red berries, medium-bodied, soft, polished, forward and already accessible, the wine is packed with sweet and savory herbs and a stony, firm finish. 87-89 Pts

1,822 Views   Tasted
2019
91
Flowers, spearmint and red, earthy fruits garner your attention on the nose. The soft, fresh, silky, polished, medium-bodied palate is loaded with layers of sweet, ripe, red fruits and freshness. This is probably the best wine Paloumey has ever produced. Drink from 2022-2034.

Flowers, spearmint and red, earthy fruits garner your attention on the nose. The soft, fresh, silky, polished, medium-bodied palate is loaded with layers of sweet, ripe, red fruits and freshness. This is probably the best wine Paloumey has ever produced. Drink from 2022-2034.

1,872 Views   Tasted
Earthy, dark red fruits, licorice, smoke and a hint of mint garner your attention on the nose. The palate shines with its round, lush, sweet, dark fruits, espresso and bitter chocolate along with blackberries. Give it a few years in the cellar and it will be even better. This is probably the best wine Paloumey has ever produced. 90-92 Pts

Earthy, dark red fruits, licorice, smoke and a hint of mint garner your attention on the nose. The palate shines with its round, lush, sweet, dark fruits, espresso and bitter chocolate along with blackberries. Give it a few years in the cellar and it will be even better. This is probably the best wine Paloumey has ever produced. 90-92 Pts

2,966 Views   Tasted
2018
91
With a good depth of color, the wine is round, ripe and loaded with black cherries, currants, blackberries, dark cocoa and earth. Lively, sweet and with good length, this is enjoyable now, but it is going to be even better with a few years of age.

With a good depth of color, the wine is round, ripe and loaded with black cherries, currants, blackberries, dark cocoa and earth. Lively, sweet and with good length, this is enjoyable now, but it is going to be even better with a few years of age.

1,371 Views   Tasted
Medium bodied, you already find the tobacco and currant character, along with bright, crisp red fruits, earth, spice and olives in the finish. 89-91 Pts

Medium bodied, you already find the tobacco and currant character, along with bright, crisp red fruits, earth, spice and olives in the finish. 89-91 Pts

2,169 Views   Tasted
2017
87
Medium bodied, forward and easy drinking with its red fruit and tobacco tinted character, there is a quick dash of chocolate in the endnote to help round things out.

Medium bodied, forward and easy drinking with its red fruit and tobacco tinted character, there is a quick dash of chocolate in the endnote to help round things out.

2,200 Views   Tasted
2016
89
Medium-bodied, and already rounding out, this early drinking, ripe, fruit-filled charmer is already delicious to drink.

Medium-bodied, and already rounding out, this early drinking, ripe, fruit-filled charmer is already delicious to drink.

3,270 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, this wine is an early-drinking charmer with a plummy, licorice character and round tannins.

Medium-bodied, this wine is an early-drinking charmer with a plummy, licorice character and round tannins.

3,704 Views   Tasted
2015
86
Charming, easy drinking, forward styled Haut Medoc with soft, fresh, red berry fruit and an uncomplicated finish. 85 - 87 Pts

Charming, easy drinking, forward styled Haut Medoc with soft, fresh, red berry fruit and an uncomplicated finish. 85 - 87 Pts

3,782 Views   Tasted
2014
87
Medium-bodied, easy drinking, soft textured, fresh, red fruits with a kick of tobacco, earth and cocoa. Drink this young for its simple pleasure.

Medium-bodied, easy drinking, soft textured, fresh, red fruits with a kick of tobacco, earth and cocoa. Drink this young for its simple pleasure.

2,135 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, easy drinking, soft textured, fresh, red fruits with a kick of tobacco, earth and cocoa. Drink this young for the pleasure.

Medium-bodied, easy drinking, soft textured, fresh, red fruits with a kick of tobacco, earth and cocoa. Drink this young for the pleasure.

2,123 Views   Tasted
2012
87
Nice, easy drinking Haut Medoc to enjoy on the young side for its soft, ripe, black and red fruits and its earthy, tobacco tint. I'd polish this off before the wine hits its 10th birthday.

Nice, easy drinking Haut Medoc to enjoy on the young side for its soft, ripe, black and red fruits and its earthy, tobacco tint. I'd polish this off before the wine hits its 10th birthday.

2,462 Views   Tasted
2010
86
Charming, easy drinking, forward styled Haut Medoc with soft, fresh fruits and an uncomplicated finish.

Charming, easy drinking, forward styled Haut Medoc with soft, fresh fruits and an uncomplicated finish.

2,797 Views   Tasted
Early drinking, medium bodied, ripe, fresh wine that is already showing some tobacco notes in the softening dark cherry finish.

Early drinking, medium bodied, ripe, fresh wine that is already showing some tobacco notes in the softening dark cherry finish.

3,100 Views   Tasted
2009
87
Medium bodied, forward and focused on the red fruit side of the style range, soft easy drinking with an earthy, fresh herb an tobacco leaf component to spice things up.

Medium bodied, forward and focused on the red fruit side of the style range, soft easy drinking with an earthy, fresh herb an tobacco leaf component to spice things up.

3,356 Views   Tasted
2008
87
Soft, round, cherry filled with a touch of oak, thyme and earth is ready to go. This is not going to improve, so if you have a bottle, drink up.

Soft, round, cherry filled with a touch of oak, thyme and earth is ready to go. This is not going to improve, so if you have a bottle, drink up.

1,831 Views   Tasted
2005
87
Fully mature, easy drinking, medium bodied, crowd pleaser, with an earthy, plum and cherry core of soft fruits.

Fully mature, easy drinking, medium bodied, crowd pleaser, with an earthy, plum and cherry core of soft fruits.

4,495 Views   Tasted