2022 Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux

51% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Fresh, floral and juicy, the accent on the fruit. A real delectation. Tannins firm but fine, so well structured as well. There’s drinkability but also the potential to age. 14.2%.

Drink 2028 - 2042

The 2022 Alter Ego is a deep limpid purple in color. It has a huge bouquet as if someone has shoved a bunch of violets in your face and said "Smell that". It just doesn't hold back. The palate is medium-bodied, with a sweet, ripe entry. Quite dense, structured and grippy, with a slightly briny finish.

Drink 2027 - 2050

The 2022 Alter Ego is a blend of 51% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it swans out with showy notions of juicy blueberries, black raspberries, and iris bulb, followed by suggestions of dark chocolate, cardamom, and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate has beautifully ripe, plush tannins and a lively backbone to support the generous, perfumed black and blue fruits, finishing long and perfumed. pH 3.73.

A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Alter Ego de Palmer offers up aromas of cherries, wild berries and plums mingled with vine smoke and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, deep and brooding, with a layered core of fruit, lively acids and rich, powdery tannins, it's a gourmand, voluptuous wine that will offer a broad drinking window.

Dense fruits, violet reflections, with a hit of iris, peony and roses. This is a serious wine, with intense phenolics and full extraction that just walks the line, edges of ripe cassis, fig, saffran spice, cocoa bean, grilled campfire notes, dark bitter chocolate and fennel. High drama, maintains estate signature, keeping its own imprint and personality. Harvest September 7 right through to October 5. Blend done by December, yield 23hl/h. 3.73ph. Thomas Duroux director.

Drink 2027 - 2042

The 2022 Alter Ego is a total pleasure bomb. Ripe and sensual, with caressing tannins, the 2022 is exceptionally beautiful. Floral and spice top notes lend tons of aromatic presence. More than anything, though, I am so impressed with the wine’s exceptional balance. Especially the tannins.

Nothing, in particular, stands out, as the wine’s balance is nothing short of magnificent. The 2022 is pure and total sensuality.

Drink 2027 - 2042

I always love the second wine from this estate, and their 2022 Alter Ego De Palmer should be terrific. Based on 61% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, aged in 25% new oak, it's a deeply hued Margaux with lots of ripe red and blue fruits, some classic chalky minerality, and floral notes. It shows the vintage's powerful, concentrated style and is full-bodied, with terrific balance.

The minerality and intensity to this wine is very impressive with blackberry and blue berry aromas and flavors. Salt and pepper. It’s full and linear with a brightness and freshness. Compacted center palate.

Gorgeous fragrance, so expressive and open, scented with red cherries, strawberries and floral notes, violets, irises and roses. Powerful on the palate, clearly ripe blackberry fruit but encased in lacy tannins with such appealing juiciness. 

Playful and so enjoyable, clean, pure, and energetic with lively acidity, chalky edges and spicing throughout. Classy and well constructed with refinement. Really quite moreish even now but still delivers power and the Margaux charm. 

3.73pH. 15% press wine. Harvest took one month, from 7 September to 5 October. 70% grand vin, 30% Alter Ego.

Drink 2027 - 2045