Wines Margaux Château Palmer - Alter Ego - 2015

Viniou Reviews

The 2015 Alter Ego de Château Palmer is a distinguished red wine from the renowned Margaux appellation in Bordeaux’s Left Bank. This cuvée, the estate’s celebrated second wine, blends predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with a smaller proportion of Petit Verdot adding complexity. The 2015 vintage benefited from an ideal growing season with warm, dry conditions and perfectly timed rains before harvest, resulting in exceptional ripeness and balance. Vinification at Château Palmer combines traditional methods with modern precision: careful selection, gentle extraction, and maturation partly in French oak barrels promote both elegance and expressive fruit.

Margaux lies in the southern Médoc, noted for its deep gravel soils atop limestone and clay, which offer excellent drainage and reflect warmth to the ripening grapes. The region enjoys a temperate maritime climate, moderated by the nearby Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde estuary, protecting the vineyards from extreme weather and ensuring slow, even maturation. Margaux is historically admired for its finesse and aromatic complexity, and Château Palmer is among its most esteemed properties, known for crafting wines of sensuality and grace.

The refined yet accessible style of Alter Ego 2015 pairs beautifully with classic French dishes such as duck breast with cherry sauce, lamb racks with herbs, or confit de canard. It also shines alongside regional rocquefort cheese or wild mushroom fricassée. For a more traditional Bordelais match, try it with entrecôte à la bordelaise, where the wine’s suave tannins and dark fruit complement the meat and sauce.

To enjoy the full aromatic spectrum and velvety texture of this Margaux, serve it at 16-18°C after decanting for about an hour. This allows the wine to open up its bouquet of blackcurrant, violet, cedar, and subtle spice, revealing the harmonious structure and lingering finish characteristic of Château Palmer’s signature elegance.