Winemaker Notes
In the 19th century, it was a common practice of the time to "hermitage" the wines. Bordeaux châteaux would add to their wines a certain quantity of wine from the Rhône – notably from the region of Hermitage – whose Syrah would strengthen the structure and power of the claret. A few bottles can still be found dating back to this period, whose labels note the name of the cru and the word hermitagé, all from vintages preceding the AOC regulations which finally ended this practice. Then in the 21st century, Château Palmer came up with the idea of bringing this forgotten tradition back to life. Years ago, during a visit to a renowned collector in California, Thomas Duroux, the director of the property, had the rare opportunity to taste a 19th century Bordeaux hermitagé. The emotions experienced that day, in the presence of a wine more than a century old, have been fully expressed in the renaissance of Palmer’s own hermitagé, the Historical XIXth Century Wine.
A definitively historic wine, whose name honours the storied past of the great wines of Bordeaux. Yet today, the aim is no longer to simply boost a meagre claret so as to give it muscle, but rather to create a unique wine, combining wine from Palmer and a small measure of a great wine from the northern Côtes du Rhône.
Blend: 47% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Wine of Cotes du Rhone
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2019 Historical 19th Century Wine is the latest release. With precocious red berry fruit on the nose, this resembles a Pauillac with plenty of creme de cassis intermixed with violet aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, fleshy, powerful and perhaps more Rhone-like than expected, given that Syrah accounts for 15% of the blend. Velvety-smooth on the finish, this will be fascinating to revisit in a decade's time. Tasted at the chateau.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
A small category representing the wines that either fall outside of appellation lines or don’t subscribe to the law and traditions set forth by the French government within certain classified appellations, “Vin De France” is a catch-all that includes some of the most basic French wines as well as those of superior quality. The category includes large production, value-driven wines. It also includes some that were made with a great deal of creativity, diligence and talent by those who desire to make wine outside of governmental restrictions. These used to be called Vin de Table (table wine) but were renamed to compete with other European countries' wines of similar quality.