Alter Ego de Palmer is the characterful second wine of Château Palmer in Margaux, yet it has developed a very distinct identity. The blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot combines classic Margaux elegance with juicy, modern fruit. On the nose it reveals dark berries, plum, violets and subtle spice and cedar notes. The palate is dense and silky yet lively, with ripe tannins and precise freshness. Its style is more approachable in youth than the grand vin, while still offering plenty of depth and complexity. A multi-layered Bordeaux that unites the finesse of Margaux with great drinkability and charm.
Ageing in new oak and foudre gives the wine structure, depth and calm harmony.
2023 more accessible in youth; benefits from ageing
Taste Profile
dry
Body
full-bodied
Tasting Note
elegant
Maturation
12 months 30% new oak, 12 months foudre
Vineyard
Château Palmer / Margaux parcels
Soil Type
sandy, gravelly, silky-textured
Alter Ego de Palmer
In Margaux, Alter Ego de Palmer isn’t a “second wine” in the lazy sense; it’s the estate’s other register. Château Palmer began shaping it deliberately from 1998 onward, drawing from the same Margaux mosaic of gravelly soils that hold heat by day and release it slowly at night. Selection starts at harvest—grapes are chosen for the kind of energy they carry—then the cellar turns surgical: vinification is adapted vat by vat, as if each lot needed its own tuning. The ambition is immediacy without simplification: a Margaux that offers earlier charm yet keeps Palmer’s poise—violet notes, supple tannins, and a dark-fruit core edged with cool, stony lift....
The Great Vertical Tasting: A wine through the mirror of time.
Anyone who compares wine across several vintages discovers its development in a particularly impressive way. A vertical tasting reveals how style, maturity, structure and aromas change over time – and helps to find the right vintage for personal taste or a special occasion.
The grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is a world-famous red grape producing dark, structured wines with cassis, blackberry, cedar, firm tannins and ageing potential.
The variety is exciting because it combines power with recognisable character. Pair Cabernet Sauvignon with steak, roast beef, lamb, venison, burgers, mushrooms and hard cheeses.
Cabernet Sauvignon →
