“One of only 2-3 Châteaux that can genuinely outflank the First Growths.” – Wine Advocate

For under 90 dollars? Kidding me?! Is it Valentine’s Day yet? Cause I’m in luuuuv with this wine!

By the way, it’s basically an INSULT to call Palmer’s Alter Ego a second wine, we were reminded when they paid a visit to Wine Spies HQ a couple of months ago. Because it’s not.

Even Wikipedia says so. It’s often mistaken as such, but as its name implies, it’s a wine of its own, not from vineyards or lots that are destined for Palmer. Ahem, speaking of, we stashed away a couple of tiny library vintage lots (2014 & 2015) of that one too here in the Store today while they last.

Alter Ego is not a 2nd wine, but an alternate one. Each in its own way, they present an image of Palmer and its terroir. Alter Ego is more open in its youth but that is not the result of a forced stylistic choice, it’s just that the grapes for Palmer grow on gravel soils with a higher clay content.

Thomas Duroux, who took over Palmer in 2004 as an alum of Opus One and Ornellaia sums it up best “Alter Ego is the more modern interpretation of the same landscape.” Palmer did make a 2nd wine, called La Réserve du Général, where roughly 10% of the production that wasn’t used to make Château Palmer ended up. Its production was discontinued in 1997, and now that 10% is sold off in bulk, the remainder is divided between Palmer and Alter Ego, with the majority going into Palmer.

Vinous rightfully calls this wine “a Margaux that should be given a long-term lease in your cellar” so patience will pay off, while it’s UTTERLY IRRESISTIBLE now. This deeply hued beauty boasts smoking good notes of blackcurrants, tobacco, chocolate, and spice. Full-bodied and impressively concentrated, it has a stacked mid-palate, ripe, sweet yet certainly present tannins, a terrific sense of freshness, and a great finish. While there’s some up-front accessibility and charm here, it has decades of longevity ahead. A gem of a Margaux bargain well worth stocking up!

Last word from the most recent Wine Spectator article on Palmer, “After two decades under Duroux’s expert hand, Palmer’s grand vin and Alter Ego second wine are perennial leaders in Margaux, who has put Château Palmer on an elite level in Bordeaux’s Margaux appellation. With an exceedingly detailed winemaking approach that includes minimized sulfur use, Duroux has elevated this third-growth estate’s second wine and grand vin to new levels of quality while honing a distinct style. He’s also converted the estate’s vineyard to biodynamic farming and is in the process of turning the estate into a fully functioning mixed-farming property, with cattle and sheep grazing as well as vegetable gardens. Call it château-to-table, if you will.”

Château to MY table please, grabbing a case before it sells out!

96 Points – James Suckling “Intense aromas of blackcurrants, cedar and ripe tobacco with hints of violets, following through to a full-bodied palate with extremely refined tannins that are well-integrated into the wine and are long and subtle at the finish. Such precision and harmony with structure. From biodynamically grown grapes. Best after 2023.”

95 Points – Decanter “Gorgeous rich dark purple in the glass. Quite jammy and concentrated on the nose, heady and perfumed with a lovely delicate florality to it too. Great freshness on the palate, juicy but a dark blackcurrant and cherry fruit juice. Beautifully balanced with integrated tannins and oak. Well defined fruit, generous and quite abundant against softly grippy, velvety tannins that just give support to the overall frame. It’s serious but with a lightness of touch and playfulness - energetic and lively but still with depth. A great Alter Ego and confident winemaking on show.”

95 Points – Falstaff “Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle edge brightening. Fine black berry fruit, nuances of cinnamon and oak, ripe heart cherry and notes of orange marmalade are in the background. Complex, juicy and elegant, finesse-rich structure, well-integrated tannins, salty minerality on the finish, has great freshness, sure development and certain ageing potential, but can already be drunk. Ten years ago, this would have been the quality of the Grand Vins. Drink 2025-2040.”

94 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous “The 2019 Alter Ego de Palmer is delineated and focused on the nose with blackberry, cedar and graphite scents. More austere yet still complex and one with the most cerebral Margaux aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, quite saline and peppery, firm and insistent grip with quiet assertive tannins on the finish. A Margaux that should be given a long-term lease in your cellar. Drink 2028-2055.”

94 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “The 2019 Alter Ego de Palmer is rock-solid and reveals a dense purple hue as well as deep, rich, concentrated aromas and flavors of ripe black cherries, blackcurrants, tobacco, graphite, and chocolate. It might be the richest, most concentrated second wine out here, and truthfully, it tastes like a Grand Vin. Medium to full-bodied, layered, and textured, it has ripe tannins, a fleshy, mouth-filling texture, and a great finish. It’s beautifully done.”

94 Points – The Wine Independent “The 2019 Alter Ego from Palmer is deep garnet-purple in color. It has a profound nose of crème de cassis, plum preserves, tar, and star anise, followed by hints of wild sage, cedar chest, and graphite. The medium-bodied palate reveals finely grained tannins and compelling freshness to match the intense, nuanced fruit layers, finishing long and vibrant. Drink 2025-2045.”