Chateau Palmer is a wine estate located in the Margaux appellation of the Medoc. It was ranked as a third growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, although for many decades it has been consistently rated as one of the best wines in the region. The Palmer vineyards cover 55 hectares (136 acres) in the Cantenac commune, mostly on a plateau of thin gravel on the edge of the estuary. Vines are densely planted, as is the habit in this region, to ensure competition between vines and promote deep root systems. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats, and different plots are vinified separately to give the winemakers control when it comes to blending. The grand vin undergoes around 21 months of barrel aging, with up to 60 percent new oak.