Palmer Alter Ego 2009

[VINH NGUYEN]

I got what i think is a pretty reasonable price on the 09 alter ego and was just wandering from those that have had it or previous vintages of it, what they thought of it? Closest comparsion to an aussie equivilant?

[Hacker]

Cellartracker will give you some tasting notes. Personally not tried it, so sorry, no help otherwise.

[Mahmoud Ali]

First off the Alter Ego is a Bordeaux, secondly it's Chateau Palmer's second wine, so normally I would have said that most Aussie Bordeaux blends would be fruitier and more full-bodied than any Bordeaux let alone a second wine. However, Bordeaux has gotten richer, fruitier and higher in alcohol through the years, probably not without the help of the reverse osmosis machines. Apparently they try to keep them out of sight of visitors. All part of my disillusionment with Bordeaux, not to mention that I can't afford them.

Palmer does have a great website last time I looked, back vintages, reviews, and maturity graphs . According to them my '86 Palmer was still a work in progress.

Mahmoud.

[penguinoid]

I can't afford Bordeaux either. Sorry to disagree, though, but I do think you're being a bit harsh on Bordeaux. They do make some pretty good wines. Yes, they are quite different in style to Australian Cabernet/Merlot-based blends, but you'd expect that? They're grown in very different conditions, and vinified somewhat differently. Not all places use RO-machines. They do tend not to be as fruity as their Australian equivilents, though for better or worse that is changing. Lots of reasons for this, not just RO machines. Green harvests/lower yields, later picking, and different stylistic choices in the actual winemaking have all contributed to this.

I'd be buying Bordeaux if I had the money - as well as Australian Cabernet/Merlot blends. Luckily you don't just have to pick one!

[Mahmoud Ali]

I do think you're being a bit harsh on Bordeaux. They do make some pretty good wines. Yes, they are quite different in style to Australian Cabernet/Merlot-based blends, but you'd expect that? They're grown in very different conditions, and vinified somewhat differently. Not all places use RO-machines. They do tend not to be as fruity as their Australian equivilents, though for better or worse that is changing. Lots of reasons for this, not just RO machines. Green harvests/lower yields, later picking, and different stylistic choices in the actual winemaking have all contributed to this.

I do understand that there are climatic, soil and stylistic differences between Bordeaux and Australian blends but my point was that reverse osmosis is a bit of a cheat that undoes all what nature does in the vineyard. It is manipulation at it's most extreme. I'm sure there are Australian wineries that use reverse osmosis machines but the fact that many top Bordeaux producers are using it is damning. Plenty of smaller Bordeaux estates don't use the machines (they are expensive) but they don't drive the market.

The fact that most wineries don't want to admit that they use is telling. I'd think twice before buying a wine made using reverse osmosis.

Mahmoud.

[penguinoid]

Ah, my mistake -- I thought your main complaint was with the stylistic differences. Yes, I agree that RO is a bit of a cheat, and it'd make me perhaps reconsider whether to buy the wine or not. I do know quite a lot of the top estates use it, which is a shame. A quick Google shows that Pontet-Canet use it. I've had a few good wines from less prestigious wineries -- I don't know if they use RO or not, but less likely. Probably wouldn't be able to afford it . It's tricky to find out who does what -- Google can help, though. (Palmer definately use RO, btw).

Another one to look out for is cryoextraction in Sauternes/Barsac/etc. Easier, cheaper and more reliable than waiting for botrytis. It's technically allowable. The wines aren't as good, though.

[Andy.L]

I got what i think is a pretty reasonable price on the 09 alter ego and was just wandering from those that have had it or previous vintages of it, what they thought of it? Closest comparsion to an aussie equivilant?

Hi Vinh, in my opinion if you can find the '09 alter ego at around $ 100 mark or under (even better , then get them otherwise you are better off spending the money at other wines from Margaux, such as Rauzan Segla, Giscours, D'IIsan etc.*these are not 2nd wine, and much much much better wines than alter ego *

Don't get me wrong, Alter Ego is a nice wine, a better 2nd wines compared to other 2nd wines, in fact I have some in the cellar. Its just that being a 2nd wine and the price it command doesn't do it for me.
Expect to leave it alone another 3 years plus and see how it goes from there.

Cheers
Andy

[VINH NGUYEN]

Thanks Andy, managed to get it for $93 so price was reasonable and going off how 09 was such a great vintage, thought i'ld give it a try. I'll give one a try once i get them and leave the other 5 to sleep a few years.

[Andy.L]

That is a good price. '09 is a great vintage, wait until '10, even better. Judging from the 1st wine Palmer, 2010 is phenomenal, and I expect the 2nd wine will reflect that as well *I hope .

Did you pick up any other '09 as well? When you receive the wines, depending where its been shipped from, remember to let it 'rest' for a while.
And if I may suggest, 'slow ox' from afternoon then decant before serving or 'slow ox' and pour, and enjoy the changes in the glass . Mmmm Juicy succulent steak

Cheers
Andy

[VINH NGUYEN]

Always on the lookout for sharp prices on 09 Bordeaux, i have some 09 pontet-canet but thats it, 1st growths in 09 are outrageous as we all know in aust so the odd bottle i find in previous vintages i buy if i can. I drink 99% aussie, but enjoy collecting the odd special bottle from the 1st growths and cult wineries of the world ...

[Andy.L]

I hope you have the patience to wait at least 15+ years before cracking one of those Pontet Canet, if not, serious 'slow O' there . None the less, if you only can have 1 wine from '09, Pontet Canet is a serious contender, good pick. First Growths prices or general bordeaux prices in AU is outrageous!!!

Cheers
Andy

[VINH NGUYEN]

I hope you have the patience to wait at least 15+ years before cracking one of those Pontet Canet, if not, serious 'slow O' there . None the less, if you only can have 1 wine from '09, Pontet Canet is a serious contender, good pick. First Growths prices or general bordeaux prices in AU is outrageous!!!

Cheers
Andy

as with all my other hobbies, we get price gouged on everything! No worries on cracking the pontet too soon, plenty of other wines to drink while it slowly matures

[rooman]

I hope you have the patience to wait at least 15+ years before cracking one of those Pontet Canet, if not, serious 'slow O' there . None the less, if you only can have 1 wine from '09, Pontet Canet is a serious contender, good pick. First Growths prices or general bordeaux prices in AU is outrageous!!!

Cheers
Andy

andy

As you will probably know Parker gave the 2009 PC 100pts. When you consider it outperformed 1st growths at 5x the price it was excellent value. On a hunch I grabbed two cases during the en premier campaign and figured I would sell one eventually and the other case would free. After Parker gave it 100, the price doubled. I will now hold the second case for another 10 years and it should eventually pay for all my 2009 purchases.

Mark