Damson plum colour, intense, concentrated and spicy, with the lightness of touch coming in through the floral aromatics, and a lift of white pepper and sage spices. Big punch of fig and blackberry fruit, and a tight umi plum edge that provides contrast. Deft and skilful, great quality. Harvest September 7 to October 5, yield 23hl/h. Thomas Duroux director. First year in barrels and then into larger oak casks for the rest of ageing.

Ripe black cherries, melted chocolate, spring flowers, and violet notes all emerge from the 2022 Alter Ego, a 51% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot. It's a rich, voluptuous, full-bodied, unctuous second wine that has more texture and richness than just about every other second wine out there while staying beautifully balanced, layered, and elegant. I'd be thrilled with bottles in the cellar.

Gorgeous fragrance, so expressive and open, scented with red cherries, strawberries and floral notes, violets, irises and roses. Powerful on the palate, clearly ripe black berry fruit but encased in lacy tannins with such appealing juiciness. Playful and so enjoyable, clean, pure, energetic with lively acidity, chalky edges and spicing throughout. Classy and well constructed with refinement. Really quite moreish even now but still delivering power and the Margaux charm. 3.73pH. 15% press wine. Harvest took one month from 7 September to 5 October. 70% grand vin, 30% Alter Ego.

Opulent and rich, with luxurious, ripe blackberry and blackcurrant character. It's full-bodied and very layered, with soft, silky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Creamy texture at the end. 51% merlot, 43% cabernet sauvignon and 6% petit verdot. This is delicious now, but will age nicely. Best after 2027.

William Kelley

The 2022 Alter Ego de Palmer is expressive, even exuberant, bursting with a sweet bouquet of ripe blackberries, minty plums and violets. Full-bodied, layered and velvety, it's suave and unctuous, with a pure, seamless profile.

The 2022 Alter Ego is bright, punchy and focused. Floral notes meld into a core of red/purplish fruit, spice, mint and orange peel. Medium in body and gracious, with sublime balance, Alter Ego is superb. In fact, the 2022 is one of the most refined editions I have tasted. It is not a very typical wine for Bordeaux, but it is among the classiest and most distinctive, without a doubt.

The 2022 Alter Ego, bottled in late July, has a clean and precise bouquet, with touches of violet infusing the black fruit and a nose that you could describe as "cool, calm and collected." The palate is medium-bodied, stricter and more linear than expected, partly due to recent bottling. There is intensity here, a crisp texture and a very graphite-driven finish that lends it a Pauillac-like personality.