The Faces of Bordeaux - Chris Myers, Château Palmer, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, AOC Margaux
At The Bordeaux Concierge, our aim is to introduce our clients to the real Bordeaux. This includes meeting the people that make Bordeaux what it is today. As part of this effort, we will bring these vibrant personalities to our audience at home through our new series, The Faces of Bordeaux. Throughout this series, we will introduce you to château owners, winemakers, cellar masters and members of the hospitality teams from an eclectic assemblage of châteaux across the Bordeaux region. We will also introduce you to some of our favorite restaurant owners, chefs, and market stallholders who all contribute to Bordeaux’s burgeoning culinary scene, as well as others who can provide a different perspective including tour guides, wine journalists, and experience providers.
Please join us as we introduce you to
The Faces of Bordeaux
Chris Myers
Export Director
Château Palmer, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, AOC Margaux
How long have you been in your role at Château Palmer?
I have been the Export Director, looking after the distribution of Château Palmer wines in the US & Canada, UK, Middle East, and Africa since 2013.
What has been your career path to date?
I started my wine life in an agricultural college in Saint-Emilion when I was 19. It was a 2 year course studying the production and commercialisation of wines and spirits, which is where I met my Bordelaise wife. I then went to work for Château Pichon Baron in Pauillac as a guide for 6 months, which was such fun. I was then taken on to open the UK and Irish markets up for a little known company at the time, Millésima, which is now one of the leading fine wine mail order companies in the world. After 6 years with them, I joined a negociant called Mahler-Besse (the family is a co-owner of Chateau Palmer) and looked after their fine wine markets (UK, Hong Kong, & Singapore) for 10 years. In 2013, I joined Chateau Palmer, and have never looked back!
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I guess the most enjoyable bit is the fact that my job is so diverse. When I am at the Chateau, I welcome clients from all over the world, organise tastings and masterclasses with our negociants, as well as discuss various distribution deals with them. I also travel a lot abroad, spreading the Palmer word and make sure that the top end restaurants, fine wine shops, and private consumers know about our wines and have them in their cellars (and of course drink them!).
“Bordeaux is known for being rather traditional when it comes to wine, always following the rules which can sometimes be a little old school. At Palmer however, we love experimenting with different viticultural methods, as well as wine making techniques.”
© Château Palmer
In your view, what makes Château Palmer special?
Bordeaux is known for being rather traditional when it comes to wine, always following the rules which can sometimes be a little old school. At Palmer however, we love experimenting with different viticultural methods, as well as wine making techniques. We have a high tech laboratory, with a great R&D team. Two of the wines we make, one called Vin Blanc de Palmer, and the other, Historical XIXth Century Wine, have grape varieties blended into them, which are “illegal” in Bordeaux, so they are declassified as Table Wines. For Chateau Palmer itself, the fact that the wine has so much Merlot in it really sets us apart. Merlot loves cool soils (limestone and clay, which is why it is the leading grape variety on the right bank), but we have planted half of our vineyard with Merlot, and they are planted on a very warm deep gravelly soil. This gives a completely different style to the grape, with lush velvety tannins, and a deep mid palate.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
I was a keen violinist up to when I was 18, and got fed up with the whole thing! I decided a year ago to get back into it, and bought an electric violin, and now have fun with my violin and guitar. Very keen on food and wine as well, but that’s not a massive surprise!
What profession other than your own would you love to attempt?
I’ve always dreamt of being an airline pilot. I spend half of my life travelling, and always find airports and the airline business so interesting!
© Château Palmer
“A stroll along the quais is a must, and on Sundays the Chartrons market is up and running - make sure you buy a dozen oysters and a bottle of white wine and sit and watch the world go by!”
What is your favorite thing about Bordeaux?
When I first moved to Bordeaux it was quite a sad looking town and the food scene was almost non-existent. Thanks to our ex-Mayor, Alain Juppé, Bordeaux has much more vibrancy and the quais is full of shops, markets and one of France’s biggest skate parks. The buildings have been cleaned up and the restaurant scene has finally taken off! Bordeaux architecturally speaking is a mini Paris.
What is the number one thing visitors to Bordeaux should do/see while they are here?
There are so many things to do in Bordeaux apart from a visit to the wineries, of course! A stroll along the quais is a must, and on Sundays the Chartrons market is up and running - make sure you buy a dozen oysters and a bottle of white wine and sit and watch the world go by! Cool your feet down in the Miroir d’Eau opposite the Place de la Bourse. For those who know nothing about wine, and also for those who do, block a couple of hours in your schedule and visit the Cité du Vin, this really is a must. Nightlife in Bordeaux is lively with lots of small, great brasseries and restaurants dotted around the city including quite a few in the Saint Pierre area (the old town). One of my favorites is Loulou! For cocktails head to either Symbiose or Le Point Rouge.
Château Palmer, located in the Margaux appellation, was recognized as a Classified Third Growth in the 1855 classification. Its vineyard is composed of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, topped off with a touch of Petit Verdot. Since 2014, the estate has been farmed 100% biodynamically. Château Palmer produces four wines in total including Château Palmer, Alter Ego, Vin Blanc de Palmer, and Historical XIXth Century Wine. Château Palmer offers visits by appointment all year long.
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© Château Palmer