Château Talbot

This imposing vineyard takes its name from Constable Talbot, an English military leader defeated at the Battle of Castillon.
Acquired in the early 20th century by Désiré Cordier, it is today owned by his great-granddaughter, Nancy Bignon-Cordier, and her children.
Ideally located on the edge of the estuary, the Talbot vineyard extends over those famous gravel rises formed from early Quaternary gravel, where only great wines are born — 106 hectares of red vines and 4 of white — in Saint-Julien. Every effort is made to convey as faithfully as possible the expression of this unique terroir.
The experience and knowledge of the Talbot terroir, together with the meticulously kept archives of past generations, allow extremely fine plot-by-plot management.
This results in a particularly well-adapted and sustainable viticulture. The aim is to listen to the vineyard without excessive interventionism and with the deepest respect for nature.
The harvest is by hand and subject to strict sorting, first in the vineyard and then at the reception of the harvest, where 8 people carry out a meticulous selection.
As for vinification, Talbot is equipped with two model vat rooms: the first, with a capacity of 4080 hl in oak vats, the second of 4830 hl in stainless steel. Electronic temperature control makes it possible to fine-tune the delicate fermentation phase in complete safety.
– Once malolactic fermentations are complete, the wine is run off into barrels, of which around 50% are renewed each year. It then remains 14 months in oak in air-conditioned cellars.
Very selective blends allow the production of a second label, “Connétable de Talbot”, which can represent up to 50% of the estate’s production.
The 4 hectares of white vines are planted 75% Sauvignon and 25% Sémillon; they produce one of the oldest dry white wines of the Médoc: château Talbot Caillou Blanc.
The production of this wine now follows the most recent precepts of the Bordeaux school of oenology: after harvesting at optimum ripeness through successive passes, the grapes are transported in small crates. Vinification and then ageing take place with 30 to 40% new barrels, on the lees with stirring.
The château is equipped with a highly sophisticated bottling hall and an air-conditioned warehouse that can hold up to two harvests stored in ideal conditions.
The wines of château Talbot, Connétable Talbot and Caillou Blanc are sold exclusively through the Bordeaux négociants. All three are delivered in wooden cases.