Alter Ego de Palmer

In the glass

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.

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.

1. 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)

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