Château Talbot 2016

A charming and dense 4th Cru Classé from Saint-Julien

The estate

Château Talbot, a 4th Cru Classé from Saint-Julien, is one of the Médoc's iconic references. Acquired by Désiré Cordier in 1918, Château Talbot is now run by Nancy Bignon-Cordier and her husband, Jean-Paul Bignon.

The vineyard

The Château Talbot 2016 is a Saint-Julien wine produced from a vineyard stretching across 105 hectares in one single piece of land in the heart of the appellation. Its vines, on average 61 years old, are idyllically situated on the banks of the Gironde estuary, resting on alluvial gravel Médoc hilltops.

The vintage

Marked by unstable meteorological conditions, 2016 began with a rainy first semester, followed by particularly dry conditions. The teams’ know-how allowed them to limit the impact on the vineyard of these climatological events. Despite moderate yields, the harvested grapes were of a high quality, enticing with richness and aromatic expression.

The vinification and ageing

Harvested by hand, the grapes were then sorted (manually and optically) before being vinified in wooden tanks. The wine was aged for 15 months in barrels, 50% of which are new.

The blend

Cabernet sauvignon (55%)
Merlot (39%)
Petit verdot (6%).

Château Talbot 2016: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Colour
The colour is dark and deep.

Nose
The nose gradually reveals floral, fruity (blackberry, fig) and balsamic fragrances.

Palate
Opening with a precise and refreshing attack, the tannic structure is refined and exhales beautifully matured tannins. The wine is smooth, with a caressing tannic touch that doesn’t lack in character. The finish is flavoursome. All is well-balanced.