Alter Ego De Palmer2010
RED WINE
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Producer
Chateau Palmer
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Blend
51% Cabernet Sauvignon
49% Merlot
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Country
France
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Region
Bordeaux
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Appellation
Margaux
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UPC
0 15643 25909 8
Reviews
James Suckling 93
Aromas of orange peel, walnuts and berries follow through to a full body, with a luscious tannins and fruit structure. Long and delicious. The second wine of Palmer.
by JS, James Suckling , 2013
Robert Parker 91
An equal-part blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2010 Alter Ego represents 50% of the crop at Palmer. It has been an interesting second wine to take note of ever since the first vintage in 1998. The 2010 displays loads of chocolaty espresso notes, with plenty of punch, glycerin and unctuosity as well as some tannin like its bigger sister, but it is clearly meant to be drinkable at a much earlier age. It will still require several years of cellaring and should last 12-15 years.
by RP, Robert Parker , 2013
Wine Enthusiast 93
The second wine of Château Palmer is a rich, floral, smooth and perfumed wine. It has layers of dark plums and almost sweet acidity, with tannins that are buried in the voluptuous palate. The finish shows intense black currant acidity.
by RV, Wine Enthusiast , 2013
Wine Spectator 92-95
Velvety and inviting, with lovely dark plum and blackberry fruit, followed by a long, caressing finish. This has some grip too, but it's nicely integrated. Should have some staying power. Tasted non-blind.
by JM, Wine Spectator , 2011
Technical Details
Vintage
Back-to-back very great vintages are hardly a frequent occurrence. In terms of quality, 2010 benefited from exceptionally favourable weather, like the 2009 vintage.
Thanks to these particularly favourable conditions, we were able to take our time in order to pick each plot at peak ripeness. In fact, the 2010 harvest was the longest in Chateau Palmer's recent history.
Although the alcoholic degree is very high, like in 2009, the acidity synonymous with freshness - and tannic concentration are greater, making for wines with an extremely solid foundation. Their power, combined with a high level of acidity, gives them the potential for becoming benchmarks, and for this to be a legendary vintage. Furthermore, as opposed to previous vintages of the century that are responsible for Bordeaux's reputation, the ability to choose exactly the right time to pick and perfect control of extraction made it possible to temper the wines' strength and vigour. They are like a finely cut diamond that, over time, will fully express all the delicacy of Chateau Palmer's terroir.
After a late start to the growing season that protected the vines from spring frosts, bud break took place evenly in the month of April. By late May, the size of the potential crop appeared excellent. However, fertilization was greatly upset by a cold, wet period in June that caused flowering to be
very spread out and led to a significant amout of coulure (shot berries), thereby reducing hopes for a large crop.
The weather in July was particularly warm and favourable, eliminating any heterogeneity in the vines after flowering, and véraison (colour change) occurred fairly quickly. This very beautiful weather - sunny, but not excessively hot, with cool nights - lasted without interruption until the end
of the harvest.
The 2010 vintage also had a very marked water deficit that grew as the summer went on. This accounted for even greater phenolic concentration than in 2009 (which was already high), as well as very small berries with astonishing aromatic richness and well-preserved acidity. A few very welcome millimetres of rain in the second week of September (35 mm in Margaux) fortunately speeded up ripening of the skins in certain areas strongly affected by water stress. Thanks to these particularly favourable conditions, we were able to take our time in order to pick each plot at peak ripeness. In fact, the 2010 harvest was the longest in Chateau Palmer's recent history.