Chateau Palmer 'Alter Ego' 2017
SKU
AEMC201710 UCAU
-
Château Palmer is a leading wine estate in Margaux.
-
Within its appellation, Palmer is certainly the closest rival to their first growth neighbour, Ch. Margaux.
-
Although officially ranked a third growth, at their best the wines of Ch. Palmer are among the greatest anywhere in Bordeaux.
-
1 or more bottles$160.00
Editors notes
A rich attack begins the tasting of this wine. Some alcoholic notes of black cherries and kirsch subside into a long finish. The tannins show themselves to be super silky, persistent but with some wood showing on the finish. A good wine but not outstanding.
Details
-
Wine Type
-
Vintage
-
Variety
-
Brand
-
Location
-
Cellaring
-
Closure
-
Alcohol Percentage
-
Bottle Size
-
Oak Type
Tasting Profile
-
Light (Light)Full (Full)
-
Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
-
Sweet (Sweet)Dry (Dry)
-
Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
-
Aroma
- Blueberry
- Boysenberry
- Herbal
-
Palate
- Blue Fruits
- Cassis
- Graphite
Food Pairings
-
Pork -
Red Meat
Critic Scores & reviews
-
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW
92"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."
-
James Suckling
93"This shows excellent body and depth of fruit. Rich and very deep. Layered and flavorful. Solid and chewy. Serious second wine."
Other vintages
Love this wine? Here's a list of other vintages we have in stock if you'd like to try them as well.
-
- Variety Cabernet Blend
- Vintage 2015
- Brand Chateau Palmer
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Red
- Alcohol Percentage 13.5% Alcohol
Alter Ego De Palmer 2015-
James Suckling95* points
-
Decanter91 points
-
Neal Martin92* points
-
Jancis Robinson16* points
$154.99
Current auction
All current auctions for this wine & any different vintages.
Locations
France
Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux has a rich history of winemaking, dating back to the Roman times. Today, it is known as one of the most significant wine regions in the world, with a reputation for producing complex, full-bodied red wines. The region is home to a diverse range of terroirs, each with its own unique microclimate, soil composition, and grape varieties.
The left bank of Bordeaux is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, which thrives in the region's gravelly soils. These wines tend to be bold, tannic, and complex, with notes of blackcurrant, cedar, and tobacco. On the right bank, Merlot is king, producing wines that are softer and fruitier, with notes of plum, cherry, and chocolate.
Aside from the red blends, Bordeaux is also renowned for its sweet wines, particularly from the Sauternes and Barsac appellations. These wines are made using a unique process that involves botrytis, or "noble rot," which concentrates the sugars in the grapes, resulting in a lusciously sweet and complex wine.
Bordeaux's classification system has evolved over time, with some estates moving up or down the ranks depending on the quality of their wines. Today, the system includes five growths, with Premier Cru being the highest and Deuxièmes Crus being the second-highest. There is also a separate classification for the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac, with Chateau d’Yquem holding the highest rank.
Overall, Bordeaux is a region that continues to captivate wine enthusiasts around the world with its rich history, diverse terroirs, and exceptional wines.
Margaux
Margaux, an esteemed appellation located on the left bank of the Gironde in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, is renowned for producing some of the world's most sophisticated and elegant wines. Margaux is home to more than 21 classified growths, which is more than any other appellation in the region, making it an exceptional destination for wine lovers and connoisseurs.
The wines of Margaux are characterized by their unique floral aromas, which are reminiscent of violet and lilac, as well as their rich and complex flavors. These wines are known for their sensuous, elegant aroma, which includes hints of ripe plum, cassis, and truffle.
The history of winemaking in Margaux dates back over 2,000 years to the Roman era, making it the oldest Bordeaux appellation to be planted with vineyards. The region spans 1,413 hectares of vineyards, which ripen about seven to ten days earlier than the surrounding area, thanks to the protection provided by the forest to the West, shielding the grapes from the cold Atlantic breeze.
The soil of Margaux is unique in the Médoc, being the thinnest soil with high gravel content, providing excellent drainage for the vines. This is critical for maintaining the quality of the fruit during harvest, which is essential to producing exceptional wines. The main grape varieties grown in Margaux include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, which contribute to the unique and complex flavor profiles of the region's wines.
Overall, Margaux is a wine lover's paradise, with its rich history, exceptional terroir, and unique grape varieties that come together to produce some of the world's most sophisticated and elegant wines. Whether you're a wine enthusiast or a connoisseur, a visit to Margaux is sure to be a memorable and unforgettable experience.
About the brand Chateau Palmer
Once a part of the ancient estate, château d'issan, divided by the heirs of the foix-candale family in 1748, 50 hectares of vineyards came to the gascq family. Though without association to any noble château, the wine produced became château de gascq, quickly established in the market and served at the court of versailles under louis xv.
Château palmer, is a winery in the margaux appellation d'origine contrôlée of the bordeaux region of france. The wine produced here, was classified as one of fourteen troisièmes crus (third growths) in the historic bordeaux wine official classification of 1855. The property is situated in the communes margaux and cantenac, and its wine is considered to be one of the two most popular third growths.
Since 1998, the château has been producing also a second label, not a second wine, alter ego de palmer, selected from the same quality terroirs, but employing different wine-making techniques and different proportions of grapes. In order to produce an earlier-drinking wine. Some 40% of the estate's production, is now sold as alter ego de palmer. The result has been a significant reduction in the quantity of wine sold as château palmer (from nearly 20,000 cases before the introduction of alter ego de palmer to 11,000-12,000 cases currently). The previous second wine, la réserve de général, is not a component of alter ego de palmer, but is now sold off in bulk.
You May Also Like
Customer Reviews
Write Your Own Review