2021 Alter Ego de Palmer - Zweitwein von Chateau Palmer Margaux AC

Decanter.com – 93 pts – GH: *Cigar box, tobacco, cedar and cinnamon - really gorgeous savoury tones with smoked earth and dark chocolate mingling with the black fruits. High acid, touching on sharp and slightly sherbety but there is a lovely chew to the fruits, mouthfilling, mouthwatering and appealing with the freshness from the higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Smooth and delicate with a layer of seduction in the richness of the fruit and the overall depth. Wide flavours in the mouth, expansive and open with bright strawberry and red cherry juice at the end, so sweet and succulent and moreish. Not so exuberant but full of easy enjoyment, a successful second wine in 2021.* - 04/2022

Falstaff Magazin – 92 pts – PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Kräuterwürze, dunkle Beerenfrucht, reife Zwetschken, ein Hauch von Cassis und frischem Koriander. Saftig, elegant, reife schwarze Kirschfrucht, feine Tannine, Brombeeren und Nougat, mineralisch, jahrgangsbedingt mit einem ungewöhnlich hohen Anteil an Cabernet Sauvignon.* - 05/2022

WeinWisser – 17,5+/20pts – GL, TW: *60 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 32 % Merlot, 8 % Petit Verdot, 22 hl/ha. Betörendes Bouquet, reife Brombeere, Schattenmorellensaft und heller Tabak, dahinter getrocknete Rosenblätter, zarte Graphitnoten und Holundergelee. Am satten Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, herrlicher Extraktfülle, stützender Rasse, engmaschigem Tanningerüst und mittlerem Körper. Im gebündelten Finale mit einer vollen Ladung Cassis, Flieder und fein sandiger Adstringenz. Info: Softe Extraktion, höhere Säure, aber in Balance. Besonderheit dieses Jahr: 1 Plot (= 40 hl/ha), der sonst in den Grand Vin fließt, wurde komplett für Alter Ego verwendet! Hat sicher zur Veredelung von Alter Ego beigetragen. Kann noch zulegen.* – 04/2022

JancisRobinson.com – 16,5/20pts – JL: *60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Less Merlot than usual due to mildew and frost. Attractive nose with dark-fruit and floral notes. Expressive fruit on the palate, lively and fresh with a refined texture. Tannins present but rounded. Finishes on a dry, chalky note.* - 04/2022

Vinous.com – (92-94) pts – AG: *Palmer's 2021 Alter Ego is fabulous. Dense and rich in the glass, with positively explosive energy, the 2021 dazzles from start to finish. A rush of dark cherry, plum, spice, blood orange, menthol and licorice infuses the palate with tremendous intensity. Hints of rose petal and pomegranate appear later to round things out. The 2021 possesses tremendous textural richness that is evident from the very first taste. The aromatics alone are especially present today.* - 04/2022

Vinous.com – (90-92) pts – NM: *The 2021 Alter Ego has quite a penetrating bouquet with an accentuated marine/oyster shell aspect that combines with the vivid blue and black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit, certainly a more structured Alter Ego than usual with a fine line of acidity and graphite/cedar notes furnishing the finish. This will require some bottle age, but it should mature extremely well.* - 04/2022

Thewinecellarinsider.com – 91 pts – JL: *Flowers and black cherries on the nose open the wine. On the palate, the medium-bodied wine is soft, juicy, fresh, clean and forward, with a polished, spicy, cocoa-dusted currant and plum finish. The wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot, making this the highest percentage of Cabernet ever used in any vintage of Alter Ego. Drink from 2023-2038.* - 05/2022