December 24, 2021 - - Garnet color with a medium finish - Slightly past due
February 13, 2021 - Balanced and profound bouquet of ripe red and black fruits, leather, spiced oak and gentle minerality. Palate echoed the nose. So balanced and elegant yet deep and complex but it needs time to open up. Probably one of the top second wines from the Bordeaux classified growths. Medium to full-bodied polished structure. Smooth transitions from entry to finish which is velvety and long. This could rival some of the lesser 4th or 5th growths. Can still keep for the next 3-5 years.
November 15, 2014 - 8.5 / 10 Reorder Excellent, smooth
August 1, 2014 - Drinking beautifully. Smooth medium body with red fruits and medium long finish. Tannins quite soft where the fruit shines. Effortless style and balance.
February 7, 2014 - Appearance: Bright and clear, the wine has deep intensity ruby color, with rims turning to garnet, and legs.
Nose: Clean, it has medium intensity aromas of black fruit such as black cherry and dark plum, floral notes of violet, maturity notes of savory, herbaceous notes of mint and blackcurrant leaf and sweet spice of cinnamon. The wine is developing.
Palate: Dry, it has medium acidity, medium (+) tannin of ripe and velvety texture. Medium level in alcohol, it has medium body and medium intensity flavors of black fruit such as blackberry and plum, oak notes of cedar, some floral notes of violet. It has a medium finish.
Conclusion: Good quality Margaux, with a reasonably concentrated nose showing good complexity, the wine has a fine balance and an elegant style, with the floral notes typical of the Margaux appellation. The palate is equally refined with fair intensity and length. Ready to drink now and not intend for further ageing, but can keep for another 2-3 years.
August 22, 2012 - Dark purple color. Medium bodied. Very elegant and perfumed aromas. The taste was very pleasant and simple -- ripe fruits, vanilla and cigar box. It was the 3rd time I brought the 2003 Alter Ego to casual dinner with good friends and this wine always performed! This wine was very pleasant and drinkable even without decanting, it was very easy to drink and matched well with all kind of dishes, everyone enjoyed it and yet it would not steal the stage from the juicy gossips (and babysitting tips among the Dads), and last but not least, this wine would not break our wallet. Bravo!
January 31, 2012 - WOW...classic bordeaux at a great price...someone told me that Palmer had begun putting more emphasis on the 2nd Classe wine Alter Ego and it shows. Black fruits approach the nose then classic vanilla-cedar-eucalyptus [is it me that finds this elusive background note in many fine cabernet and/or bord. blend??!??!] find the middle. The taste was rich not opulent, with a mid weight body and 30 second plus finish. Drinking great right now! What I found also interesting is that over three hours the fruits held, secondary notes mingled around the savory pie spice section of the pantry and the body stayed equally impressive start to finish. Loved it!
January 23, 2012 - Light to medium red with blk berry, tobacco and touch of oak on the nose. There is leather, cedar along with blk berry earth and a hint of tar. Wine was well integrated with a smooth transition from nose to finish. Really hitting its stride now has some life to it left.
October 16, 2011 - Drinking very well now. However, very low acid. Was definitely the right time to drink it.
March 11, 2011 - Dark ruby red with a classic blackcurrant and polished cedar nose. For the first hour it is lovely; fresh and bright with crisp blackcurrant and sour cherry fruit, a touch of spicy polished oak and fine smoky tannins. As it opens it becomes a little over-ripe, the fruit becoming a little stewed and a touch jammy for me. Maybe indicative of 2003?