Château Palmer Margaux Alter Ego de Palmer 2006

Guaranteed to make people happy around a festive table, Alter Ego de Palmer is easily in the top three most consistent 2nd wines of Bordeaux (redefining the term along the way), and it is singing right now in the 2006 vintage. Often overshadowed by the 2005, this has depth and concentration at 16 years old, and majors on black chocolate, espresso and liqourice root, with the waves of peony and iris that are so signature to both the 1st and 2nd wine at Palmer. 50% new oak, Thomas Duroux director.