2009 Chateau Palmer Alter Ego

Bordeaux Blend - 750ML
Reg: $113.94
$101.94
This product is
out of stock
Most orders placed M-F by 3pm (PT) ship same day.
Orders placed on a weekend or holiday will ship the next business day.
Shipping Info

Free storage available
Wine Storage

REVIEWS

JS 93 NM 93 WE 93 JL 92 WA 91
JS 93

jamessuckling.com, July 2013

What a second wine. This is so delicious with a dense palate and beautiful yet friendly structure. Velvety tannins coat your mouth but it is the savory fruit that brings you back for more. Love the chocolate and coffee...
NM 93

Neal Martin's Wine Journal, July 2013

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. This has a lovely floral bouquet with classic dark black fruit, olive, a touch of brine and sea salt. It opens beautifully in the glass - all finesse and grace. The palate is...
WE 93

Wine Enthusiast, March 2011

(WE91-93 points) Very ripe fruit aromas. The palate is almost velvet in texture, smooth and rich, fruits packed with black berries and sweet plums. A charming, delicious wine.
JL 92

TheWineCellarInsider.com, October 2019

Fully mature, combining its soft, elegant, refined, medium-bodied character with fresh, red cherries, plums, flowers and earthy nuances. There is no reason for further aging. Read more...
WA 91

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, March 2012

A second wine that has improved dramatically is the Alter Ego de Palmer. The 2009 a blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot exhibits aromas of blackberries cassis chocolate roasted espresso and a smoky/foresty...

WINE DETAILS

Color & Type Red
Varietal Bordeaux Blend
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Sub-region Margaux
Vintage 2009
Size 750ML
Percent alcohol 14%
Closure Cork

Chateau Palmer, classified a Third Growth Bordeaux, is in the commune of Cantenac, the heart of the Margaux appellation.

The Palmer vineyards, originally part of the larger estate of Chateau d’Issan, cover 66 hectares of gravelly soil on terraces overlooking the Garonne River. There are equal amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (47% each). The remainder is Petit Verdot. From 2014 forward, the entire property has been farmed biodynamically.

Chateau Palmer is named after Major General Charles Palmer of the British Army, who bought the estate in 1814 from Marie de Gascq. A passionate man, he invested a great deal of time, energy and money to develop his property, purchasing land and buildings in the communes of Cantenac, Issan, and Margaux, and by the 1830s, his property covered 163 hectares, 82 hectares of which were vineyards. “Palmer's Claret” quickly gained popularity in London clubs and even found favor in the eyes of the future King George IV.

Charles sold the estate in 1843. The current owners, the Sichel and Mahler-Besse families, have been in place since 1938. Their focus throughout has been on authenticity, quality and consistency.

Alter Ego is a different, nuanced expression of the Chateau Palmer terroir. Born with the 1998 vintage, Alter Ego resulted from a new approach to selecting and blending, intended to interpret the Chateau Palmer terroir differently without departing from the values that make the reputation of the estate’s wines – namely, finesse and elegance, aromatic richness, harmony and length.

Made in roughly the same volume as Chateau Palmer, Alter Ego spends less time in oak, just 16 to 18 months, and only 25% to 40% of the wood is new.

Offering intense, crispy and juicy fruits, Alter Ego is a spontaneous uninhibited wine, soft and round as soon as it has finished barrel aging. Its lush aromas and supple tannins make it a wine that can be appreciated in the first years after bottling.