2019 Chateau Palmer Alter Ego

Bordeaux Blend - 750ML
Reg: $99.94
$89.94
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REVIEWS

JS 96 DC 95 JD 94 JL 94 TWI 94 VN 94 WE 94 JA 93 WA 91
JS 96

jamessuckling.com, December 2021

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...
DC 95

Decanter, January 2022

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...
JD 94

jebdunnuck.com, April 2022

The second wine of Château Palmer, 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...
JL 94

TheWineCellarInsider.com, March 2022

Flowers and red fruits is the name of the game here. From start to finish, the wine exudes freshness, soft, silky textures and a wealth of earthy, fresh, tobacco tinted, red pit fruits. Forward in style, this will be...
TWI 94

The Wine Independent, May 2023

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...
VN 94

Vinous, February 2023

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...
WE 94

Wine Enthusiast, October 2022

Finely perfumed, the wine has ripe tannins and well-crafted textures. The wine's black fruits are forward, showing complex structures and the promise of fine aging. This second wine of Château Palmer will age well. Drink...
JA 93

janeanson.com, October 2021

Enveloping aromatics, velvety and welcoming. This has fine spice and is full of momentum and clarity. Supple tannins supporting layers of damson fruits, holding on tight through the mid palate with anise and black pepper...
WA 91

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, April 2022

Aromas of sweet cherries, raspberries, berry fruit liqueur, licorice and spices introduce the 2019 Alter Ego de Palmer, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping wine with lively acids, melting tannins and a lavish...

WINE DETAILS

Color & Type Red
Varietal Bordeaux Blend
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Sub-region Margaux
Vintage 2019
Size 750ML
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.

The 2019 Chateau Palmer Alter Ego is a Bordeaux Blend that hails from the renowned Margaux region of Bordeaux, France. With its captivating deep purple hue, this wine presents itself as a true gem in the glass. The nose is a sensory delight, exuding concentrated aromas of blackcurrants, cedar, ripe tobacco, violets, and delicate florals. The perfume-like quality of the nose is incredibly alluring and sets the stage for the greatness to come.

On the palate, this wine truly shines. It boasts remarkable freshness and a juicy character that resembles a dark blackcurrant and cherry fruit juice. The fruit is beautifully defined and generously abundant, dancing harmoniously with the velvety tannins and oak. The integration of these elements showcases the confident and skillful winemaking of Chateau Palmer. The wine strikes a perfect balance between serious and playful, energetic and lively, while still maintaining depth and complexity.

Notable critics have praised the 2019 Chateau Palmer Alter Ego, further solidifying its status as an exceptional wine. Decanter awarded it an impressive score of 95 points, describing it as "gorgeous," "heady," and "confident winemaking on show." James Suckling granted it 96 points, highlighting its "intense aromas," "extremely refined tannins," and "precision and harmony with structure." Jane Anson awarded it 93 points, praising its "enveloping aromatics," "momentum and clarity," and layers of flavors. These accolades are further reinforced by other esteemed critics such as Vinous, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Jeb Dunnuck, Jeff Leve, and Wine Enthusiast, who all scored it in the 90s range.

The 2019 Chateau Palmer Alter Ego is a wine that showcases the artistry and craftsmanship of Chateau Palmer. It is a wine that demands attention and admiration, with its impeccable balance, depth of flavor, and remarkable aging potential. Whether enjoyed now or cellared for future enjoyment, this wine is a testament to the excellence that Bordeaux has to offer.