Alter Ego de Palmer 2022

Expressive, dark-fruited, blackcurrant, floral tones, subtle roasted notes; dense palate, balanced, crisp fruit, silky tannins; long-lasting finish. An Alter Ego that can hold its own alongside some Grand Vin.

The 2022 Alter Ego de Palmer is expressive, even exuberant, bursting with a sweet bouquet of ripe blackberries, minty plums and violets. Full-bodied, layered and velvety, it's suave and unctuous, with a pure, seamless profile.

Gorgeous fragrance, so expressive and open, scented with red cherries, strawberries and floral notes, violets, irises and roses. Powerful on the palate, clearly ripe black berry fruit but encased in lacy tannins with such appealing juiciness. Playful and so enjoyable, clean, pure, energetic with lively acidity, chalky edges and spicing throughout. Classy and well constructed with refinement. Really quite moreish even now but still delivering power and the Margaux charm. 3.73 pH. 15% press wine. Harvest took one month from 7 September to 5 October. 70% grand vin, 30% Alter Ego.

Opulent and rich, with luxurious, ripe blackberry and blackcurrant character. It’s full-bodied and very layered, with soft, silky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Creamy texture at the end. 51% merlot, 43% cabernet sauvignon and 6% petit verdot. This is delicious now, but will age nicely. Best after 2027.

51% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Fresh, floral and juicy, with the emphasis on the fruit. A real delight. Tannins firm but fine, very well structured as well. There’s drinkability but also the potential to age. (JL)

The 2022 Alter Ego is bright, punchy and focused. Floral notes meld into a core of red/purplish fruit, spice, mint and orange peel. Medium in body and gracious, with sublime balance, Alter Ego is superb. In fact, the 2022 is one of the most refined editions I have tasted. It is not a very typical wine for Bordeaux, but it is among the classiest and most distinctive, without a doubt.

The perfume showcases flowers, allspice, black currants, licorice, and cocoa. The palate, featuring silky tannins, is fresh, pure, vibrant, and fruity. The refined finish has a beautiful polish, perfect as the berries, spice, and dark chocolate linger in the final note. The wine is a blend of 51% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2027–2042.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, brightening at the edge. Herbal savouriness with black cherry fruit, fine nougat, candied orange zest. Very deep and complex, blackberry confit, lively acidity, fine, supporting tannins, mineral, a hint of plums and chocolate, lingers for a long time, certain ageing potential, certainly the best Alter Ego to date. (25/1, + 25).

Ripe black cherries, melted chocolate, spring flowers, and violet notes all emerge from the 2022 Alter Ego, a blend of 51% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot. It’s a rich, voluptuous, full-bodied, unctuous second wine that has more texture and richness than just about every other second wine out there while staying beautifully balanced, layered, and elegant. I’d be thrilled to have bottles in the cellar.

51% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot. Opulent blueberry-tinged bouquet with blueberry jelly, licorice and violet. On the generous palate, a creamy texture and a beguiling, caramel-like depth of extract, with balanced verve; good structure and a well-toned body. In the focused, aromatic finish, a basket of blackberries, tarragon, dark minerality and finely sandy astringency.

Damson plum colour, intense, concentrated and spicy, with a lightness of touch coming through the floral aromatics, and a lift of white pepper and sage spices. Big punch of fig and blackberry fruit, and a tight umé plum edge that provides contrast. Deft and skilful, great quality. Harvest September 7 to October 5, yield 23 hl/ha. Thomas Duroux director. First year in barrels and then into larger oak casks for the rest of ageing.

Rich and enveloping on the nose, this wine reveals pure, ripe purple fruits, lifted by a bright hint of wild blueberry leaf. On the palate, delicate sweet small berries reappear, with that same blueberry note, along with an ultra-caressing, plush texture. Remarkable freshness carries through to the finish, accompanied by a wave of velvety, finely grained tannins and a subtle touch of fresh coffee. The overall impression is very clean.

Alter Ego’s bouquet stands out for its freshness, its nuances of garrigue and wild berries, and its high definition. Linear and juicy, the wine follows a precise path. It unfolds in one continuous flow, from the attack through to the finish. Its tannins, fine and perfectly integrated, appear mid-palate and provide a structure that is as comfortable as it is subtle. A wine of great finesse, distinctive and profound.

Black color. Intense, delicate, fruity nose with a hint of coffee. Broad on the attack, with a meticulous, subtle texture, the wine unfolds with great aromatic expression. Then, an unfamiliar complexity appears in this cru between the mid-palate and the finish. It evolves nobly and deeply, with fine glycerol richness—superb. A small harvest, reduced by one third due to weather incidents in the most fragile plots, tightened the production of this wine to the very heart of the vines that produce Alter Ego each year. Blend: 51% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot. Alcohol: 14.02% - pH: 3.73.

Bright red fruits and rich black fruits give a wine that is softly textured on the surface. At the core are tannins with a rich succulent character. It will be ready from 2027. Organic and bio-dynamic.