Chateau Palmer, classified a Third Growth Bordeaux, is in the commune of Cantenac, the heart of the Margaux appellation.

The Palmer vineyards, originally part of the larger estate of Chateau d’Issan, cover 66 hectares of gravelly soil on terraces overlooking the Garonne River. There are equal amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (47% each). The remainder is Petit Verdot. From 2014 forward, the entire property has been farmed biodynamically.

Chateau Palmer is named after Major General Charles Palmer of the British Army, who bought the estate in 1814 from Marie de Gascq. A passionate man, he invested a great deal of time, energy and money to develop his property, purchasing land and buildings in the communes of Cantenac, Issan, and Margaux, and by the 1830s, his property covered 163 hectares, 82 hectares of which were vineyards. “Palmer's Claret” quickly gained popularity in London clubs and even found favor in the eyes of the future King George IV.

Charles sold the estate in 1843. The current owners, the Sichel and Mahler-Besse families, have been in place since 1938. Their focus throughout has been on authenticity, quality and consistency.

Alter Ego is a different, nuanced expression of the Chateau Palmer terroir. Born with the 1998 vintage, Alter Ego resulted from a new approach to selecting and blending, intended to interpret the Chateau Palmer terroir differently without departing from the values that make the reputation of the estate’s wines – namely, finesse and elegance, aromatic richness, harmony and length.

Made in roughly the same volume as Chateau Palmer, Alter Ego spends less time in oak, just 16 to 18 months, and only 25% to 40% of the wood is new.

Offering intense, crispy and juicy fruits, Alter Ego is a spontaneous uninhibited wine, soft and round as soon as it has finished barrel aging. Its lush aromas and supple tannins make it a wine that can be appreciated in the first years after bottling.