Alter Ego de Palmer by Château Palmer

In the glass

Full-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: cassis, blackberry, violets, crayon, slate

Palate: fresh berry fruit, silky tannins, lively acidity, dark cherry concentration, mineral finish

Not a second wine but a distinct cuvée emphasising freshness and fruit intensity over the grand vin's power: Margaux character with more immediate expression, distinguished by its energy and precision.

What it pairs with

Entrecôte with pepper sauce
Alter Ego's freshness and fruit intensity cut cleanly through the richness of a peppercorn-sauced steak.
Roasted duck breast
Duck fat's richness and the wine's lively fruit create a classic combination.
Lamb shoulder with herbed bulgur
Herb-scented slow-cooked lamb is mirrored in Alter Ego's aromatic freshness and violet notes.

How to serve Alter Ego de Palmer

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass. The bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
Pair with. Entrecôte with pepper sauce, Roasted duck breast, Lamb shoulder with herbed bulgur. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Introduced in 1998, Alter Ego de Palmer was conceived not as a second wine but as a distinct cuvée with its own identity, emphasising freshness of fruit and intensity over the structural ambition of the grand vin. Around 40% of Palmer's production is sold as Alter Ego. It shares the estate's Demeter biodynamic certification.

1998 — Alter Ego de Palmer introduced as a distinct cuvée, not a second wine

Facts

Producer: Château Palmer
Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot
Classification: Margaux AOC
Oak: 25-40% new French oak barrels, 16-18 months
ABV: 13.5%
Price: €75-120 at retail
Drinking window: 8-20 from vintage
First vintage: 1998
Biodynamic: Demeter Certified
Organic: ECOCERT

Scores

Decanter 95 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Wine Advocate 93 (2020 vintage, reviewed 2023)

Frequently asked about Alter Ego de Palmer

What does Alter Ego de Palmer taste like?

On the nose, cassis, blackberry, violets, crayon, slate. On the palate, fresh berry fruit, silky tannins, lively acidity, dark cherry concentration, mineral finish. Structurally full-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. Not a second wine but a distinct cuvée emphasising freshness and fruit intensity over the grand vin's power: Margaux character with more immediate expression, distinguished by its energy and precision.

When should I drink Alter Ego de Palmer?

Drink 8-20 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Alter Ego de Palmer?

Entrecôte with pepper sauce is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Roasted duck breast and Lamb shoulder with herbed bulgur. Alter Ego's freshness and fruit intensity cut cleanly through the richness of a peppercorn-sauced steak.

What grapes are in Alter Ego de Palmer?

The blend is Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot. The wine is classified as Margaux AOC.

Alter Ego de Palmer