Alter Ego de Palmer Margaux 2020 Bottle size: 750ml
France, Bordeaux
R1,750
‘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.’ – James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, 96/100
‘Palmer's second wine, the 2020 Chateau Palmer 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. Best After 2025’ – Jeb Dunnuck, 94/100
‘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. 2026-2045’ – William Kelley, Wine Advocate, 93/100
‘Layered cassis and blackberry fruit on the nose, a pretty serious Alter Ego as it was En Primeur, with a ton of crayon, grilled coffee beans and slate. Violet notes highlighted as it unfurls, and this has concentration and great ageing potential. 31hl/ha yield, 3.73ph, 35% new oak, with large sized oak casks for the second year, so a two-step ageing process (as has been true since 2017, with low SO2 additions). Harvest September 15 to 29. 2025-2040’ – Jane Anson, janeanson.com, 93/100
‘The 2020 Alter Ego de Palmer has a tightly-wound bouquet that demands a little more coaxing than other Margaux's that I tasted. Quite refined with black cherries, blackcurrant, iris flower and light iodine scents. Lovely definition. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fresh on the entry and quite saline, not as flamboyant as you might expect with a pleasant strictness towards the tannic finish (this is the most tannic Alter Ego ever produced.) Very fine, but serious. 2025-2050’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 93/100
‘Palmer's second wine, the 2020 Chateau Palmer 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. Best After 2025’ – Jeb Dunnuck, 94/100
‘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. 2026-2045’ – William Kelley, Wine Advocate, 93/100
‘Layered cassis and blackberry fruit on the nose, a pretty serious Alter Ego as it was En Primeur, with a ton of crayon, grilled coffee beans and slate. Violet notes highlighted as it unfurls, and this has concentration and great ageing potential. 31hl/ha yield, 3.73ph, 35% new oak, with large sized oak casks for the second year, so a two-step ageing process (as has been true since 2017, with low SO2 additions). Harvest September 15 to 29. 2025-2040’ – Jane Anson, janeanson.com, 93/100
‘The 2020 Alter Ego de Palmer has a tightly-wound bouquet that demands a little more coaxing than other Margaux's that I tasted. Quite refined with black cherries, blackcurrant, iris flower and light iodine scents. Lovely definition. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fresh on the entry and quite saline, not as flamboyant as you might expect with a pleasant strictness towards the tannic finish (this is the most tannic Alter Ego ever produced.) Very fine, but serious. 2025-2050’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 93/100
| Condition | New |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 14% |
| Body | Medium to full-bodied |
| Blend information | 56% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Petit Verdot |
| Drink to | Drink or cellar |
| Variety | Bordeaux Blend |
| Rating | JS 96 |
| Producer information | Château Palmer belonged to the Pereire family from 1843 to 1938. During that time the château underwent major improvements to modernize the estate and reconstruct the vineyards. In 1938, the château was sold to 4 wealthy Bordeaux families. After time, two of the families – the Mahler-Besse and the Sichel family – bought out the other two families, and to this day they are still the two major shareholders. Alter Ego was created in 1998 with the purchase of 8 additional hectares of vines. Château Palmer does not view this as a second wine due to the different plots used as well as the unique selection and blending approach in making Alter Ego. |
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FREE SHIPPING:
Available on all orders over R1,500, excluding event tickets. The expected delivery times are the same as 'Standard door-to-door' below.
STANDARD DOOR-TO-DOOR:
Shipping fees are calculated on the delivery ‘street code’ provided during checkout.
- Cape Town & surrounds: 1 – 2 working days
- Joburg, Pretoria, PE & Bloemfontein: 3 – 4 working days
- Durban & regional areas: 4 – 5 working days
COLLECTION (Cape Town only):
Orders are available for free collection at our Cape Town office only. You will be notified as soon as your order is ready for collection.
CELLARING:
Wine Cellar offers professional wine storage at our premises in Cape Town. If you are not an existing cellaring client, please view our rates and set up an account by visiting our cellaring page.
JOHANNESBURG ONR:
For this special overnight road service, orders must be placed before 13h00 SAST. The order will be delivered by the close of business the following working day.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING:
We use a third party courier for international shipping. Please contact info@winecellar.co.za for the rates and delivery options.
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