Château Palmer Historical XIXth Century Wine No. 23 NV

Château Palmer Historical XIXth Century Wine is a revival of the old Bordeaux practice of strengthening claret with Syrah from the northern Rhône.

In the nineteenth century, merchants often added Hermitage to the wines of the Médoc to give them more colour and structure, and bottles treated this way were highly prized. Thomas Duroux, who runs this Margaux third growth, first trialled the idea again in 2004. The blend is built on parcels of the estate's own vines, to which a modest proportion of Syrah is added, chosen each winter in the northern Rhône from a source that is kept secret. Because it crosses two regions, the wine is sold as Vin de France, and the midnight-blue label carries neither the château's name nor a vintage, only a lot number. About 5,000 bottles are made each year.

Decant for an hour or two and serve at around 17 to 18 degrees. It suits richly flavoured dishes such as slow-roasted lamb shoulder, grilled rib eye, duck or game. Deep and firmly structured, it will reward ten to twenty years in the cellar.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.