Winemaker Notes
The attack is powerful and fruity and is favorably counterbalanced by the Growth's legendary freshness. The tannic structure isn't lacking for elegance as, not only is it present, it escorts the wine with all the grace of a flamboyant gothic style: a cathedral's rose window. Its length is ascending, flavorful, infinite…The wine is full-bodied, true, but never spoiling such supreme elegance.
Of course the vintage has, once again, spoken. Fortunately, it has been brought under control. This wine should be decanted two hours before serving. It will be at its peak between 2010 and 2025.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
The other wine produced at Chateau Palmer is appropriately named. While the chateau wine has the opulence, this has delicacy and a grace that is immensely attractive
Barrel Sample: 90-92 Points -
Wine Spectator
Dark in color, with intense, very ripe aromas of raisin, tar and licorice. Full-bodied, with loads of ripe tannins, wonderful dried fruit character and a long, superfruity finish. A lovely second wine from Palmer. Best after 2014.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This is another estate where the second wine has become better than the grand vin was 30 or 40 years ago. Administrator Thomas Duroux is especially proud of the 2005 Alter Ego de Palmer, which boasts abundant amounts of sweet berry fruit intermixed with notions of chocolate, charcoal, and black fruits. Soft tannins and a heady, opulent finish offer immediate appeal. Enjoy it over the next decade.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Silky, seductive and polished are the words that characterize the best wines from Margaux, the most inland appellation of the Médoc on the Left Bank of Bordeaux.
Margaux’s gravel soils are the thinnest of the Médoc, making them most penetrable by vine roots—some reaching down over 23 feet for water. The best sites are said to be on gentle outcrops, or croupes, where more gravel facilitates good drainage.
The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification but it is nonetheless important in regards to history of the area. In 1855 the finest chateaux were deemed on the basis of reputation and trading price—at that time. In 1855, Chateau Margaux achieved first growth status, yet it has been Chateau Palmer (officially third growth from the 1855 classification) that has consistently outperformed others throughout the 20th century.
Chateau Margaux in top vintages is capable of producing red Cabernet Sauvignon based wines described as pure, intense, spell-binding, refined and profound with flavors and aromas of black currant, violets, roses, orange peel, black tea and incense.
Other top producers worthy of noting include Chateau Rauzan-Ségla, Lascombes, Brane-Cantenac, and d’Issan, among others.
The best wines of Margaux combine a deep ruby color with a polished structure, concentration and an unrivaled elegance.