Photo courtesy of Chateau Plamer

Chateau Palmer’s Rare Limited Edition Cuvee
Only 5,000 Bottles per Vintage

Chateau Palmer is one of the most beloved properties of Bordeaux. This regal Margaux is a Chateau that has stood the test of time and continues to innovate and lead Bordeaux forward.

When estate director Thomas Duroux joined Chateau Palmer, the estate entered a period of renaissance that has Chateau Palmer turning out their finest decades of high quality wine and the greatest consistent track record of this venerable property.

One of the greatest innovations of Duroux is his ability to adapt historical techniques and thinking on wine and apply them to today with a modern twist. This fundamental analysis and rethinking of the past and future at Chateau Palmer extends from the vineyards and farming into the cellars and blends. Quality over quantity has been a mantra at Chateau Palmer that Duroux has doubled down on and that is easily recognized in the wines. 

Alongside Duroux’s drive to a newer consistent quality, he also looked back at the pedigree and history of the Chateau and its historic vineyards. While tasting bottles from the turn of the century, Duroux was inspired to research and experiment with the practice of “hermitage”. Thus was born the Historical XIXth Century Wine.

Based on some of the historical and iconic plots at Palmer, the Historical XIXth Century Wine incorporates roughly 10% Syrah from the famed northern-Rhone appellation Hermitage. The origins of the practice was to bolster a claret’s color and intensity, something that was needed in the late 1800s and early 1900s when vintages were more consistently below average and problematic. Some years the addition of Syrah softened and fleshed out the wine. Other years, the Syrah added spice and structure. In other instances, the Syrah gave the light colored claret the much needed intensity of color. 

Today, Duroux produces the Historical XIXth Century Wine as an hommage to the past acknowledging the foundation of what made Palmer one of the benchmarks of the Medoc. Furthermore, it is a case study of blending, climate change and aging that the property continues with consistency today on a very limited production. Roughly 5,000 bottles are produced per year for the entire world and the library program at the Chateau. Overall the Historical XIXth Century Wine exudes the personality and character of the vintage at Chateau Palmer with an exciting and unique “seasoning” that tweeks the traditional interpretation into something new and exciting. Much like a Michelin-Starred Chef reinterprets a classic dish today.

Cheers,
Jeremy