It wasn't a simple chance that led Bernard Phelan, a young Irish wine broker, to leave his mother country at the end of the 18th century and settle in Bordeaux. At that time, the city was a major trading centre with the British Isles. The families that did business together, buying and selling the wines produced in the region, formed close fits.

These relationships sometimes led to marriages, and notably that of Bernard Phelan to one of the daughters of Daniel Guestier, a well-known merchant in the market. With the benefit of his father-in-law’s experience, he was able to sum thinking about making his own wines, in order to do this, he acquired Ie Clos dc Caramey.

When he died in 1841, Bernard Phelan left this vast estate under the combined name of Chateau Segur de Garamey, to his son Frank. The latter though of Irish stock, was a Medoc man in his heart, and devoted his light to promoting the renown and improving the quality of the wines produced on his property. In addition, he became the mayor of Saint-Esstephe, holding the post for thirty years.