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Alter Ego de Palmer 2010

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Margaux
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

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Label

Tasting Notes

For many of the classified growths in the Medoc, the quality of the second wines has soared over the last 5-6 years, and Alter Ego is no exception. The 2010 Alter Ego is the richest ever made. Relatively high in alcohol, this is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Merlot. Thick and juicy, its black fruits intermixed with acacia flowers, camphor, and subtle smoky notes are followed by a plump, corpulent style of wine with loads of fruit, glycerin and texture. Drink it over the next 15 or so year

90/92
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (194), May 2011

Tasted at the château. The Alter Ego 2010 has a well-defined, quite exuberant bouquet of dark cherries, boysenberry and cassis that blossom in the glass. There is just a hint of fresh dates emerging with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with an edgy, liquorice-tinged entry. It has a grainy texture, good depth, though needs just a little more refinement towards the finish. Tasted November 2012.

92
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2013

Floral and blackberry and currant. Full to medium body. Round and velvety with chocolate and nuts. A firm and structured Alter Ego.

91/92
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2011

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Alter Ego de Palmer rolls out of the glass with crème de cassis, stewed plums and mocha scents followed by fried herbs, tilled soil and cedar chest. Full-bodied, the palate has a solid structure of chewy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing just a tad firm. 2020 - 2035

90
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (March 2020), March 2020

49% Merlot, 51% Cabernet Sauvignon. Very dark purplish crimson. Markedly aromatic. Very lifted with a strong undertow. Racy and vibrant, just a little green note there and even orange peel. Great tension and even a little sucking-stone character. Much more structure than usual for Alter Ego. Certainly doesn't taste hot. Alter Ego is still theoretically made specifically to be drunk young but 2010 presented a challenge to this philosophy! 'In a vintage like 2010, you cannot go against it,' Thomas Duroux. This tastes like a very smart wine off its own bat. A most unusual Alter Ego. pH 3.55. 14.4%

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2011

The 2010 Palmer Alter Ego is a beauty. Made from close to an even split of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (from 50% of the total crop), it offers a deep purple color as well as a smoky, chocolaty style in is cassis, espresso and tobacco aromas and flavors. Big, rich and loaded with fruit and texture, it’s still a baby, with ripe, sweet tannin, yet certainly offers ample pleasure. Drink it anytime over the coming 15-20 years.

92
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, July 2017
94
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2011

Fragrant wild violets nose, wonderful weight and texture, succulence and firmness, definitely not a 'second wine'. Drink 2015-25.

17.5
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2011
Read more tasting notes...

Delivering 3.55pH with 14.4 % alcohol, a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Merlot, this has a very tightly wound bouquet with dark cherries, cassis and a touch of liquorice. There is a very fine sense of definition at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with sturdy, firm tannins, layers of mocha-tinged dark berried fruit leading to a structured, quite spicy finish with gentle but insistent grip. Tasted March 2011.

90/92
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2011
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.