Alter Ego - Château Palmer - Margaux 2017 4df5d4d9d819b397555d03cedf085f48

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/17/2020

Composed of 53% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Alter Ego de Palmer is deep garnet-purple in color and springs from the glass with vivacious black raspberries, black cherries and crushed blackcurrants notes plus hints of Sichuan pepper, menthol, pencil lead and cardamom. Medium-bodied, the palate is charged with energy, featuring expressive, bright black fruits and firm, fine-grained tannins, finishing long and lively. Drinking Window : 2020 - 2038

Vinous

92 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe3/11/2020

The 2017 Alter Ego is pliant, textured and supple. Expressive floral notes add inner perfume and freshness to a core of dark red berry fruit, mocha, new leather, spice and menthol. A wine of striking textural richness, Alter Ago also remains light on its feet and wonderfully nuanced. The 13% alcohol, low by present-day standards, adds to a feeling of freshness.

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020

This is a delicious and savory wine with beautiful, ripe and creamy tannins, as well as chocolate and plum character. Full body. The flavors turn to wet earth and mushrooms with some leather. A blend of 53% merlot, 41% cabernet sauvignon and 6% petit verdot. Lovely finish. Try after 2021.

Le Point

15,5-16 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe6/20/2018

Fruits noirs, riche, dense, tanins bien enrobés, milieu de bouche relevé, charnu, finale fruité et épices. Bon volume.

Jeb DUNNUCK

89-91 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

The second wine of the estate, the 2017 Palmer Alter Ego is a similar blend to the Grand Vin and is 53% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. It has beautiful ripeness and density as well as ample black fruits, licorice, and toasted spice aromas and flavors. With good volume, a big, concentrated mid-palate, and a good finish, it’s slightly more elegant and streamlined than the Palmer and will be drinkable at an earlier age.

Vinifera

91-93 / 100

byJacques Perrinthe5/28/2018

Nez très frais, avec une grande finesse d’expression sur des notes de mûre et de baies des bois. Entrée en bouche souple. Il dessine un ovale parfait, s’allonge imperceptiblement. Suberbe texture. Tanin délié, juteux. Très jolie finale.

Vinous

89-92 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 Alter Ego is wonderfully lifted and floral, with a persistent red berry character that carries through to the finish effortlessly. The 2017 is a very pretty Alter Ego that will drink well with minimal cellaring. There is so much to like here. The blend is 53% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot. Technical Director Thomas Duroux told me his team harvested all the fruit in nine days as opposed to the more typical 2-3 weeks. The 2017s were done with no SO2 at crush. Duroux stopped the pumpovers early and favored gentle extractions. Both wines are in the 13-13.2% range of finished alcohol.

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-93 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

Fresh-picked flowers, thyme, herbs, espresso and cherry griotte rise to the surface, just for the asking. Refined, silky with a hint of dust on the tannins, the wine spotlights elegance and purity of fruit. Produced from a blend of 53% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot, the harvest took place September 20 to September 29.

Vinous

89-91 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 Alter Ego is matured in 25% new oak. It has quite a rich, dark chocolate-tinged bouquet that is driven by the Merlot, almost Right Bank in style. It just lacks the same detail and clarity as the Grand Vin. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannin, nicely balanced, certainly one of the more approachable Alter Ego in recent years with a touch of spice and clove towards the finish.

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

A blend of 53% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Alter Ego de Palmer is very deep purple-black in color and gives up exuberant crushed red currants, red cherries, black plums and mulberries with touches of forest floor, garrigue and lavender plus a waft of dark chocolate. The palate is medium-bodied with a good core of plummy fruit and very soft, plush tannins, sparked by just enough freshness, finishing fruity.

Decanter.com

91 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2018

The blends for the grand vin and second wine are similar this year. This is carefully presented, accomplished and precise, with fresh mint and peony notes on the nose followed by bright and vibrant black fruit flavours. It's extremely pretty, with some lovely floral notes. The yield was 38hl/ha as they lost a few plots to frost over to the west of the appellation. 13.5% press wine. 45% of overall production, representing 9,000 cases. IPT 66.

Drinking Window 2024 - 2038

WeinWisser

17 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/25/2018

53% Merlot, 41 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot. Grenat mit rubinrotem Rand. Intensives, warmes Waldbeerbouquet, dahinter rote Johannisbeeren und Schattenmorettensaft. Am eleganten Gaumen mit kijrniger Textur und einer feinen Schalenbitterkeit. Wieder-um viel roter Kirschsaft und Preiselbeer-marmelade im langanhaltenden Finale. Scheiner Wein, hat aber nicht ganz die Klasse vom Vorjahr!       
17/20 2024 — 2034

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16,5 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/17/2018

Wine Enthusiast

91-93 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2018

Soft and silky, this is a rounded, ripe wine. It has just enough gentle tannins to sustain the generous black fruits and acidity. This is going to be a ripe, fruity wine as it develops. Drink from 2022.

Jamessuckling.com

92-93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

This shows excellent body and depth of fruit. Rich and very deep. Layered and flavorful. Solid and chewy. Serious second wine.

Wine Spectator

89-92 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/4/2018

Lively, featuring lots of lavender and savory hints mixed with black cherry and plum flavors. Shows a light bramble note. Open-knit, with juicy energy on the finish.—J.M.