2020 Chateau Palmer 'Alter Ego' Margaux

• "Gorgeous. Precise" ~96 James Suckling
  
• "Juicy & Succulent. Gorgeous Wine" ~94 AG, VM
• "Could Easily Mistake This for the Grand VIN" ~94 JD
• Quality Is Very Very High. ∼97 Vintage VM
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About the Wine

Alter Ego isn’t just the second wine of Château Palmer—it’s a wine with its own identity, its own vineyards, and its own philosophy. First released in 1998, Alter Ego was born from a dedicated 8-hectare parcel and crafted with the same precision, passion, and people behind the Grand Vin. But here, the goal isn’t to mimic Palmer—it’s to offer something more immediate, seductive, and expressive of the vintage in its youth.

The 2020 Alter Ego is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, vinified with the same gravity-fed systems, parcel-by-parcel attention, and biodynamic principles that have redefined Palmer’s place among Bordeaux’s elite. What makes this vintage special is the balance between richness and freshness, thanks in part to the use of large oak foudres and minimal intervention in the cellar.

Under the stewardship of Thomas Duroux, Palmer has evolved into a beacon of innovation—one that combines deep respect for terroir with cutting-edge precision and sustainability. Alter Ego reflects this perfectly: it’s a wine that delivers elegance without pretense, power without heaviness. If Palmer is the grand opera, Alter Ego is the private encore—no less captivating, and maybe even more intimate.

Tasting Notes

Made from 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Alter Ego de Palmer is a seductive, perfumed Margaux with striking lift and charm. Notes of plums, blackberries, rose petals, and dark chocolate swirl with hints of walnut, balsamic, and crushed stone. The palate is vibrant and juicy, with fine, chalky tannins and a bright, polished finish. Deep yet fresh, this second wine delivers Grand Vin energy with irresistible elegance.

Reviews

Gorgeous perfumes of plums, berries, light chocolate and walnut follow through to a medium body, fine tannins and crunchy finish. Bright and fresh. Precise tannins. Drinkable but better after 2027. ~96 James Suckling

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. ~94 Jeb Dunnuck

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. ~94 Decanter

The 2020 Alter Ego is phenomenal. Bright acids and lifted floral top notes give the Alter Ego terrific brilliance. The combination of the growing season and a move towards foudres for the second year of élevage yields an Alter Ego that is decidedly linear in construction. The 2020 is going to need a number of years to come around. It's a gorgeous wine, but readers will have to get used to a style that is quite different from the more exuberant wines of the past. It's a very classic Alter Ego and very classic Margaux. ~94 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

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. ~93 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

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