Château Palmer
The Historical XIXth Century red wine is an invitation to a journey through centuries and terroirs.
In the 19th century, it was common practice for Bordeaux winemakers to add a touch of Rhône wine—especially from the Hermitage region—whose Syrah reinforced the structure, color, and brightness of the claret. At the time, blending grape varieties and regions was tolerated, and some old bottles can still be found, labeled with the name of the cru and the word “hermitagé,” all from vintages predating the AOC regulations that ended this practice. These wines were all that remained of this alchemy until the day Thomas Duroux, director of Château Palmer, had the rare opportunity to taste a Bordeaux “hermitagé” from 1869. The emotions experienced that day, in the presence of a wine over a century old, were fully expressed in the revival of Palmer’s own “hermitagé,” the Historical XIXth Century Wine—a winemaking challenge and a dual homage to Bordeaux’s history and the flavors of the Rhône Valley.
“This is a collective creation, a free interpretation of a forgotten tradition that awakens our imagination and invites us to dare something different.”
Thomas Duroux — Director, Château Palmer
In winter, the Château Palmer team travels to the northern Rhône Valley. There, Thomas Duroux and Sabrina Pernet identify the 10% Syrah grapes that, when combined with the estate’s Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, will enrich the blend, imparting complexity, soft and precise tannins, compact grain, velvety texture, and notes of underbrush or black truffle.
Tested in small batches in 2004, the Historical XIXth Century Wine expanded in 2006 before dazzling in 2010. Today, it is a signature of the Château; the embodiment of a rare wine that defies appellations and breaks free from current norms. With limited production—about five thousand bottles a year—this collector’s wine intrigues refined palates and influential sommeliers, shaking up classicism to better celebrate history.
This wine is the expression of our hesitations and the fruit of infinite curiosity, where tradition endures through the charm of dreams and inspires as much mystery as conversation.
Awards
94/ 100 – Vinous
Allergens information
Contains sulphites.
SKU: 110032
