Bordeaux 2015: ‘ravishing’ Alter Ego released

Château Palmer has released the price of its second wine ‘Alter Ego’, which at €44 is just over 14% more the opening price of the 2014 wine.

Described as “ravishing” by Neal Martin, who scored it 90-92, it has been well rated by leading critics with 91-points from Tim Atkin MW, 16.5 from Jancis Robinson MW and 92 from Jean-Marc Quarin.

Out at €44 per bottle ex-négociant, it is 14.3% more expensive than the 2014 was offered for last year and is on merchant lists at roughly £474 per dozen.

From Margaux, which is universally regarded as one of the vintage’s best-performing appellations and from the stable of a consistently high quality estate, how good the wine is, is not in question.

An email from Lay & Wheeler suggests that in a vintage like 2015, “a piece of Château Palmer at a fraction of the price, in a great vintage, is too good an opportunity to miss.”

Certainly the 2015 is one of the better rated Alter Egos of the past few years and it is cheaper than the 2010 and 2005 which have lower scores.

On the other hand the 2012 which Robert Parker rated 93-points – the highest rated Alter Ego of the last decade – is about £100 cheaper at £375 p/cs and the 2014, which Martin also rated 90-92, is likewise cheaper at £370 a case.

Then there is the reference to the grand vin, raised by Lay & Wheeler. In its email it said that Palmer is, “undoubtedly one of the wines of the vintage, but will be released with a price to match.”

In 2009, third growth Palmer marked the occasion was an enormous release price of €215 p/b. While it has lowered its opening prices since, releasing its 2014 at €160 a bottle, looking at the increase on Alter Ego what will it be on Palmer?

If one supposes Palmer goes up at least 18% on its 2014 release price, the “average” increase Liv-ex members have predicted for this campaign, that will see it costing over €180 ex-négoce. At that point might its owners decide it simply deserves another €200 price tag?

Other notable wines also out today so far are (all prices ex-négoce):

• La Lagune – €32.4 p/b, up 12.5% on 2014 opening price
• Du Tertre – €25.5 p/b, up 25%