Chateau Palmer and Alter Ego - Two Top Notch Bordeaux To Drink Now or Cellar Chateau Palmer will always have a special place in my heart and cellar due to a friendship with a collector whose cellar not only had one of the deepest collections of this esteemed Classified Third Growth, but who also had a knack for sharing it in the most generous and outrageous way. Every year he would host a pool party and open a serious vertical of up to 20 vintages or more, often back into the late 1800's. The wines would be opened, decanted, and set ot on tables in the house, and guests were free to help themselves throughout the day, wandering in out of the pool, bathing suits dripping, to pour a glass of 1959 or 1878 or some other gem, amble back outside and enjoy it with whatever was coming off the grill. Decadent, edifying and extravagant, it gave me a love and respect for this terrific Chateau and a deep understanding of just how well the wines can age. While ranked officially a Third Growth, there are many (including me) who think of it as being in its own category, a place that in many vintages can be every bit the equal of the First Growths. The Chateau lies on the gravel banks along the Gironde, home to some of the best wines in the world. But while Cabernet is king in the Medoc, the unique terroir at Palmer is planted to 47% each of Cabernet and Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot. Its style, as a result, is one of elegance, balance and finesse - the Pomerol of the left bank, or some would say it even has Burgundian sensibilities. But comparisons aside, it is all Bordeaux when it comes to age-worthiness, depth and richness. The Alter Ego, which replaced the former second label Reseve du General, is actually a wine all its own. It was created to reflect the terroir and style of the property, but made to be more fruit forward and accessible in style in contrast to the Grand Vin which is built more for the ages. That said, the two together can fill a terrific niche in the cellar, and provide great drinking over decades between the two. At our dinner hosted by Jean Louis Carbonnier, Director for the Americas for the Chateau, we tasted the 2008 and 2005 Alter Ego, and the 2004, 2001 and 1995 Chateau Palmer, all paired with a spectacular menu prepared by Chef David Felton at 90 Acres. While all the wines were excellent, my two standouts were the 1995 Palmer and the 2005 Alter Ego. Both had the depth and richness of their superb vintages, and the benefit of just enough bottle age for them to harmonize and come together, leaving them both on the front edge of their drinking window. In the case of the Alter Ego 2005, it has a decade at least of delicious drinking ahead of it, the Palmer a decade or two. Another important note was the perfect condition of the wines, a point made by Jean Louis who has the opportunity to taste these wines on many different occasions. His point was well taken as these wines have come direct from the winery through the official import and distribution channels, and have been kept in excellent storage conditions for their entire lives. We can't stress enough how important this is especially for wines with considerable age, and something worth paying a reasonable premium for. This is a pre-arrival offer. Palmer 1995 arrives early May, Alter Ego arrives early June. To Order, call us at 908.953.0900 with payment information, reply to this email with same, or click below to order on our secure website. Chateau Palmer 1995 - $325 per bottle - Beautiful ruby color, classic nose of warm red and dark fruits, cedar, silky supple and complex with the mouth-feel of a great vintage. textural, layered and long. Like the Alter Ego below, it shows the textural warmth and richness of its superb ripe vintage, but with elegance and balance as well. Just coming out of its shell and poised to drink great for a decade or more. Alter Ego 2005 - $125 per bottle - The 2005 Alter Ego is simply beautiful! Just coming out of its shell, it is still more primary than developed but has certainly shed it youthful notes and is beginning to take on the warmth and harmony of a wine entering its prime. Tannins are silky and supple, and warm rich dark fruits carry the day. Hints of mocha and espresso, plum, tea spice all are in the mix. Lovely! |
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