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GENERAL PALMER

The son of John Palmer, a wealthy man well-introduced into the English aristocracy, Charles Palmer (1777-1851) was a friend of the Marquis of Bath and Lord Cambden while studying at Eton and Oxford. In 1808, he succeeded his father as Mayor of the spa town of Bath and was elected a Member of Parliament. Charles Palmer purchased a commission in the prestigious 10th Regiment of Hussars, commanded by the Prince Regent, the future King George IV. He was appointed the Prince's aide-de-camp.

The Napoleonic period was drawing to a close in 1814 when General Charles Palmer arrived in France with the future Duke of Wellington after the Peninsular War between Napoleon and England. Parliament decided to reward him with a large sum of money in gratitude for his father's military services, and he acquired Château de Gascq, on which he left his mark as well as his name.

A gentleman, officer, and aide-de-camp of the Prince of Wales, Charles Palmer was famous at the English court as a ladies man and also for his military victories. He fell under the spell of Bordeaux as well as the charms of Marie de Gascq. The beautiful widow convinced him, during a stagecoach ride delicately referred to as "turbulent" according to legend, to buy her estate.

A passionate man, Charles Palmer devoted a great deal of time, energy, and money to developing his property. From 1816 to 1831, Palmer bought land and buildings in the communes of Cantenac, Issan, and Margaux. His property covered 163 hectares in 1830, including 82 hectares of vines.

The Major General lived mainly in England, and so the estate was managed by his authorised representative, Mr Grey, who helped to increase the wine's reputation among wealthy connoisseurs. Palmer's interests elsewhere in Bordeaux were looked after by the shipper Paul Estenave and the financial manager Jean Lagunegrand.

While these men took care of his affairs in France, Charles Palmer did his best to promote his wine in England thanks to his connections at court. He married Mary Elisabeth Atkins, the daughter of a wealthy family, on February 14th 1823. This strengthened his social position and was the beginning of a more regular and calm existence. Thanks to his influential relations and charm, "Palmer's Claret  was much sought after by London clubs, and was particularly appreciated by the future King George IV, whom Charles often accompanied during his night time excursions. Palmer remained a lover of fine food and wine, spending lavish sums on his gastronomic pleasures and living an increasingly ruinous lifestyle. He was obliged to sell his magnificent Médoc estate in 1843. Despite this setback, Charles Palmer could be proud of leaving an estate with a tremendous potential to his successors.

The estate, when purchased by the Péreire banking family in 1853, was a credit to Palmer's immense passion for an extraordinary wine.