Deep colour. Fresh dark cherry, inky espresso aromas with complexing spicy/ cumin notes.. Concentrated and inky textured with dark cherry, dark chocolate flavours, liquorice, fennel notes and fresh long Italianesque acidity. Slinky, al-dente finsih with espresso graphite notes. Lovely aromatics and freshness. Tasted at Ch Palmer
95 points
This is very concentrated yet soft and fresh in texture. Full-bodied and round and mouth-filling. So impressive how it fills your mouth yet remains fresh. It’s so framed.
95-96 points
"The 2016 Alter Ego is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. Fresh, vibrant and pulsing with energy, the 2016 is utterly captivating from the very first taste. There is a purity to the 2016 that is simply remarkable. Floral overtones add lift to this super-expressive, sensual Margaux. Alter Ego is made from a selection of parcels that are picked earlier than those used for the Grand Vin. Lower temperatures in fermentation and gentle vinifications yield a wine that emphasizes freshness and energy. In that sense, Alter Ego is not really a second wine of the Grand Vin, but rather is more accurately described as a second, and independent, wine off the property. 2022-2026"
94 Points
"A super fresh and expressive nose with a wealth of ripe red and dark plums, as well as blackberries and cassis, with subtle cedar and bracken complexity. The palate has a deeply rich, long and assertive style with a deep-set, flavorful and structured finish. Classically styled with great depth. Second wine of Château Palmer. Try from 2023."
97 Points, JamesSuckling.com
"The 2016 Alter Ego, matured in around 35-40% new oak, has a forward, quite voluptuous bouquet of macerated red cherries, kirsch and hints of cassis, underneath which lies a fine graphite thread. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannin on the entry. This feels quite tarry at the moment, and dense but tightly coiled toward the grippy finish. I would have liked a little more flesh to come through. Not bad, but this year I find the Palmer to be streets ahead. 13.5% alcohol. 2022-2035"
91 Points, Vinous
On Bordeaux’s Left Bank, near the southern end of the Haut-Médoc, lies Margaux, one of the most celebrated villages in the world of wine. Margaux is home to Château Margaux, the revered first-growth property, as well as 20 more Grand Cru Classé estates ranked in the 1855 classification of Bordeaux. The acclaimed wine of Margaux benefits from the diverse soil types in the appellation.
In general, Margaux has a very thin layer of topsoil, and the very best vineyards, above the Gironde River, have gravelly soils that encourage deep root growth and allow for good drainage. Because of the variations in soil, Margaux wines can range from delicately flavoured to highly concentrated, from medium- to full-bodied. Yet all Margaux wines share a fragrant bouquet, silky texture and remarkable balance. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates in the wines of Margaux, as it does throughout the Left Bank, with Merlot and Cabernet Franc used in small percentages for blending. Because of their excellent aging potential, the best Margaux wines are prized by collectors.
