January 31, 2025
Alter Ego 2020 - A “devilishly charming” second wine from Chateau Palmer.
Chateau Palmer, located in the prestigious Margaux appellation, is one of Bordeaux’s most celebrated estates. Renowned for its elegance and complexity, the estate combines exceptional terroir, a commitment to biodynamic viticulture, and meticulous winemaking to produce wines of extraordinary depth and finesse. Its iconic Grand Vin and Alter Ego showcase the silky texture and aromatic allure of Margaux’s gravelly soils. With a history dating back to the 19th century, Chateau Palmer continues to set benchmarks for quality and innovation in Bordeaux.
The 2020 Alter Ego offers exceptional value, delivering a level of quality remarkably close to that of the Grand Vin—perhaps more so than ever before. Born from the silky, sandy, and gravelly soils characteristic of its appellation, Alter Ego beautifully reflects the essence of Margaux. With a Merlot-dominated blend, it exudes a seductive aromatic profile and a refined, approachable texture. While more accessible in its youth than its Grand Vin counterpart, this wine evolves gracefully with time, revealing layers of complexity and character for those patient enough to cellar it.
With recent score upgrades from Neal Martin when tasting the wine blind and some very solid in bottle scores that has seen Alter Ego scoring amongst it’s best ever rating, the 2020 is showing itself as being a solid recommendation.
Don’t miss the opportunity to secure the 2020 Alter Ego—offered at an exceptional price of €62 In Bond per bottle. With its remarkable quality, recent score upgrades, and outstanding aging potential, this is the perfect moment to add one of Margaux’s finest expressions to your collection.
Chateau Palmer Alter Ego de Palmer 2020
96 Points | James Suckling
Gorgeous perfumes of plums, berries, light chocolate and walnut follow through to a medium body, fine tannins and crunchy finish. Bright and fresh. Precise tannins. Drinkable but better after 2027.
94 Points | Jeb Dunnuck
Palmer's second wine, the 2020 Alter 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 | Vinous, Neal Martin
The 2020 Alter Ego de Palmer has a potent nose with plenty of black fruit, perhaps just a tad more exuberant than its peers. Cedar and pine aromas come through with aeration, followed by a scent of India ink. The palate is medium-bodied with a plush, almost voluptuous texture. Though it is very concentrated initially, it seems to lose the tension and precision on the finish—yet that manifests after 20 minutes in the glass. It will be interesting to see how this matures. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
94 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle
Devilishly charming on the nose, deep and seductive, expressive and richly scented. Juicy and succulent but with a richness in terms of texture and depth. Seductive, defined and refined with a chalky, grip to the tannins. Feels rich and charming at the same time with blackcurrant, black cherry, blueberry, pomegranate and a touch of balsamic with an undercurrent of crushed stones and liquorice. A lovely second wine with clear ageing potential.
93 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley
The 2020 Alter Ego de Palmer has turned out beautifully, bursting with aromas of violets and rose petals mingled with notions of sweet dark berries and baking chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and seamless, it's vibrant and perfumed, with a bright core of fruit, powdery tannins and a long, expansive finish. It's a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot.