2023 Alter Ego de Palmer

The second wine of Château Palmer, the 2023 Alter Ego De Palmer is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot that was aged 12 months in 30% new French oak barrels followed by 12 months in foudre. This deep purple-hued beauty boasts gorgeous aromatics of black cherry and blueberry fruit intermixed with graphite, crushed stone, and licorice. It's rich, full-bodied, and powerful, yet has great acidity, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It's too good for a second wine and will cruise over the coming three decades. There are roughly 5,300 cases produced. Drink 2026-2056.

The 2023 Alter Ego is soft, open-knit and floral, with exceptional balance and tons of class. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, blood orange, mint, chalk and white pepper are all beautifully lifted in the glass. This mid-weight, gracious Alter Ego is exceptionally vivid. All the elements are so well balanced. It's a totally sensual Alter Ego that delivers on all levels. Silky, polished contours wrap around the finish.

The 2023 Alter Ego, bottled late July, takes a few swirls of the glass to cohere, but offers quite enticing scents of blueberry, violet, blood orange and vanilla. Very fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with sweet black cherries and blackcurrant laced with black pepper. Gentle grip with just a touch of bitterness that lends tension. This sample was decanted, which I feel benefited its showing.