Named after Major General Charles Palmer, who purchased the estate in 1814 and expanded it significantly, elevating its reputation to rival First Growths by the 1830s. Palmer’s financial troubles led to a sale in 1843, and by 1853 the prosperous Péreire brothers acquired it, constructing the château and solidifying Palmer’s Third Growth classification in 1855. In 1938, a consortium of Bordeaux families (led by Sichel and Mahler-Besse) took ownership, ushering in the modern era. The estate has since continually innovated – launching a second label Alter Ego in 1998 to craft a more approachable wine, and shifting to 100% biodynamic farming by 2014 – all while maintaining its status as a benchmark of the Margaux appellation