In the 19th century, Bordeaux merchants refined certain Clairet wines by adding some L'Hermitage wine to the mix to enhance structure, color and shine. The era tolerated crossbreeding of grape varieties and regions; English wine lovers appreciated these few drops of Rhône poured into the Gironde, turning the wine garnet red and flavoring it with pepper or violets, sometimes transforming them into creamy and powerful wines.

In 2005, Thomas Duroux was overwhelmed by tasting a Château Palmer 1869, where he thought he recognized a subtlety from another time. Is the bottle sealed? Since there is no certainty, the experience inspires him with an idea: to exhume this centuries-old practice by diverting it from its original purpose. Hybridization here serves to highlight the excellence of a wine that has proven itself sufficiently to be able to take any risks. This is how the historic wine of the 19th century is born, an oenological challenge, a joint homage to the past of Bordeaux and the current flavors of the Rhone Valley. An invitation to a journey through the centuries and the French regions.

“It is a collective creation, the free interpretation of a forgotten tradition that stimulates our imagination and invites us to dare. » Thomas Duroux – Director, Château Palmer