Palmer & Co. are a Champagne house situated right in Montagne de Reims, the heart of the Champagne region. This illustrious subregion of Champagne, which is one of five, boasts some of the world’s highest quality producers.
Among said producers are Mailly, Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, and Pommery, just for starters. The wine sourced from Reims by Palmer & Co. is all Premiere Cru or Grand Cru quality, making this a fantastic value.
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Palmer & Co. Brut Reserve Champagne Review
The vast majority of Champagnes are blends. Montagne de Reims, being known for world-class Chardonnay, generally sees producers primarily use Chardonnay as the base.
This bottle is no exception, boasting about 50% Chardonnay. However, if you want the specifics of your particular bottle, you can go to their website and enter the bottle tracking code on the back.
This will reveal the bottling date, blend, and disgorgement date as well!
Palmer & Co. Brut Reserve Champagne
- Brand: Palmer & Co.
- Country: France
- Region: Champagne (Reims Specifically)
- Wine Type: Sparkling Wine
- Varietals: Chardonnay (50-55%), Pinot Noir (30-35%), Pinot Munier (10-15%)
- ABV: 12.0%
Palmer & Co. Brut Reserve Champagne Backstory
The winery was founded in 1947 and boasts over 200 hectares (500 acres) of vineyards classified as Grand and Premier Crus located in Montagne de Reims.
Along with the juice they source from Reims, they source grapes from the Côte de Sézanne area, the Côte des Bar, and the Marne Valley to help build an elegant and powerful little blend.
Appearance
Fine tight bubbles coupled with a bright golden color in the glass make this a very attractive bottle to pour.
An absolutely lovely look for a black-tie event or for your Tuesday night poker game with the girls/guys.
Smell
Freshly baked croissants, green apple, and lemon custard dominate the aromas of this bottle. That said, the wine was not as rich or concentrated as I would have expected from the aromatics.
Taste
Brioche straight out of the oven, freshly picked lemons, and under-ripe green apples, along with the faintest hint of freshly toasted butter, define this bottle.
It is luscious, layered, and complex, with some nice acidity to give it a good backbone.
What Does Palmer & Co. Brut Reserve Champagne Pair With?
What does good Champagne NOT pair with? This is an excellent bottle to have at brunch, with a charcuterie board, with bread pudding, and with everything in-between.
I personally enjoy it with fattier cuts of meat, richer creamy cheeses such as Brie, or a bacon cheeseburger.
Don’t knock it until you try it, the acidity and carbonation are a match made in heaven with the decadence of rich meat and melty cheese.
What Are Wines That Are Similar to Palmer & Co. Brut Reserve Champagne?
In terms of other Champagne options, Palmer & Co. Brut Reserve is very much in line with other options from their neck of the woods.
Think big names like Veuve Clicquot from Louis-Vuitton_Moet-Hennessy, Champagne Pommery, and Mailly Brut Reserve.
If you are looking for a more everyday option, I would go with Piper Sonoma Blanc-de-Blancs, Louis Buillot Blanc-de-Blancs, Vitteaut Alberti Cremant de Bourgogne, or Gruet Brut.
Final Thoughts
I was thoroughly impressed by this bottle. In a time where French import prices, especially Champagne, are at record highs, this bottle offers excellent value in the market.
With an average market value of around $40-50, it is a solid buy across the board.
If you are looking to impress someone but do not feel the need or desire to splurge for a big brand name Champagne, this is definitely an option worth considering, I would say.