Bordeaux 2010: All That Glitters… (May 2011)

(a 51/49 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot; 82 IPT; 13.9% alcohol) Deep ruby-red. Musky aromas of blackberry, gunflint and black pepper, plus a whiff of dried herbs. Bright and linear on the palate, with lively acidity framing the flavors of dark fruits, black pepper and minerals. Finishes with smooth tannins and good length. This rather firm-edged Alter Ego is a different wine than usual, more rigorous and less fruity than the softer, suppler versions of recent years. In fact, in this vintage it resembles Palmer more than Alter Ego.