Chateau Palmer Alter Ego de Palmer 2020

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.

• Drinking Window: 2025 - 2045
• Reviewer Name: Jeb Dunnuck

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.

• Drinking Window: 2027 - 2042
• Reviewer Name: Neal Martin

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.

• Drinking Window: 2025 - 2039
• Reviewer Name: Georgina Hindle

Layered cassis and blackberry fruit on the nose, a pretty serious Alter Ego as it was En Primeur, with a ton of crayon, grilled coffee beans and slate. Violet notes highlighted as it unfurls, and this has concentration and great ageing potential. 31hl/ha yield, 3.73ph, 35% new oak, with large sized oak casks for the second year, so a two-step ageing process (as has been true since 2017, with low SO2 additions). Harvest September 15 to 29.

• Drinking Window: 2025 - 2040
• Reviewer Name: Jane Anson

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.

• Drinking Window: 2026 - 2045
• Reviewer Name: William Kelley