Alter Ego 2009

93 points, “Do not underestimate this wine.” – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate

93 points, “Love the chocolate and coffee undertones.” – James Suckling

93 points, “This was the first wine I tasted in en primeur week, and what a start it was.” – Tim Atkin

A whirlwind of black fruit, rose gardens, violets, black olive brine, ripe cherries, freshly brewed espresso, cassis and smoked chocolate. This is pure hedonism from an exceptional vintage and one of the stars of Bordeaux.

As Robert Parker says “Palmer can be as profound as many First Growths”. This Third Growth Margaux château – named after a British officer Major General Palmer – has been making a mockery of its 1855 Classification for decades. Alter Ego is often referred to as Château Palmer’s second wine, but strictly it’s a second label, as it comes from the same vines but uses different winemaking techniques and a different blend of grapes. It’s therefore a new interpretation of the terroir, rather than being a separate wine. This wine is so loved that most agree that if there were a reclassification of Bordeaux tomorrow, Alter Ego would certainly become a classified growth.