Alter Ego de Palmer - Margaux 2020

Chateau Palmer, a Third Growth estate in the heart of the Margaux appellation, has consistently proven itself to be a standout Bordeaux producer, crafting wines that rival the famed First Growths of the region. The estate's consistent performance and high praise from critics have earned Chateau Palmer a reputation that far surpasses its initial standing on the Left Bank.

Chateau Palmer is among a select group of estates known as "Super Seconds," a title bestowed upon properties that consistently perform above their official 1855 classification. Liv-Ex, an international wine trade platform that ranks Bordeaux producers biennially based on the same standards used in 1855, places Chateau Palmer at the top of the Second Growth category, above other reputable chateaux such as Leoville-Las Cases and Cos d’Estournel. As a Third Growth, Chateau Palmer's status as a front-runner in this elite category is particularly impressive, surpassing the expectations set by its official ranking and overshadowing many of its Second Growth counterparts.

“Palmer's second wine, the 2020 Château Palmer Ego, is a beauty. Based on 56% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, this ripe, sexy Margaux offers up a dense purple hue, impressive notes of ripe black cherry and currant fruits, full-bodied richness, and a layered, sweetly fruited, textured, already impossible to resist style. Given its density, structure, and length, you would certainly be excused for mistaking this for the Grand Vin. Give bottles 2-4 years and enjoy over the following two decades.” - 94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

"The 2020 Alter Ego is phenomenal. Bright acids and lifted floral top notes give the Alter Ego terrific brilliance. The combination of the growing season and a move towards foudres for the second year of élevage yields an Alter Ego that is decidedly linear in construction. The 2020 is going to need a number of years to come around. It's a gorgeous wine, but readers will have to get used to a style that is quite different from the more exuberant wines of the past. It's a very classic Alter Ego and very classic Margaux.” - 94 Points, Vinous

"Chocolate shavings and smoked coffee bean on the nose, it's a vintage where you can't get away from the tannins, but here they have sinew and juice, like the best translation of the tannins in the year. This has real purity of fruit (very low SO2 addition at Palmer), together with the gourmet touch that you want in Alter Ego. 45% of overall production. 3.73pH. Survived mildew better than in 2018 because of experience in dealing with the conditions. August 15 to 29 for the harvest. A yield of 31hl/ha.” - 93 Points, Decanter

Producer: Château Palmer

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot

Appellation: Margaux

Vintage: 2020

Size: 750ml