Talbot Castle

Talbot Castle

A rich history

The name of this vintage comes from the ConstableTalbot, Earl of Shrewsbury. This renowned warrior was also governor of Guyenne. He was defeated in 1453 at the Battle of Castillon. In the 1855 classification of Médoc and Graves wines, Château Talbot becameFourth Growth ClassifiedIt then belonged to the Marquis d'Aux, which remained the case for many years, before passing into the hands ofDésiré Cordierin 1918.

This visionary would also become mayor of Saint-Julien in 1925 and acquire other estates, including Château Gruaud Larose. He organized the Longevity Festival in 1934, to which he specially invited the President of the Republic, Albert Lebrun. His intention was to celebrate longevity by demonstrating, with supporting statistics, that great wines helped people live longer. He had signs, now legendary, erected throughout the village, reminding passersby of the prestige of the local appellation.Saint-Julien.

Cordier Family

United with passion

Désiré CordierAround 1980, he wrote in one of his notebooks that “to own and remain the owner of a renowned estate, [...] everything must be sacrificed, starting with personal gain. Therefore, to own a wine, one must be, in a way, in love with it.” This invaluable advice was passed on to his son Georges and then to his grandson Jean, who succeeded him at the helm of Château Talbot. Together, they gave it the impetus that established it as one of the most celebrated wines of Bordeaux. Upon Jean's death, his daughters Lorraine and Nancy took over the estate, agreeing to perpetuate the expertise and respect that previous generations had shown to this grand cru.

It's todayNancy Bignon Cordierand her husband Jean-Paul, who, along with their three children, are in charge of Château Talbot. Thus, this family spent more than a century in this vineyard, united passionately.

Saint-Julien

Exceptional terroir

Talbot Castle is located on the plateau ofSaint-JulienIts vineyard covers 110 hectares in a single block. It benefits from an exceptional terroir thanks to its location on the edge of the Gironde estuary, on alluvial gravelly slopes of the Garonne. The soil consists of fine Günzian gravel resting on a limestone base containing asterias fossils. This stony environment provides the vines with good drainage and retains the day's heat.

Its grape varieties consist of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, sometimes with touches of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc depending on the vintage. The vineyard also includes 5 hectares of white grapes, including Sauvignon Blanc and a small amount of Sémillon. The grapes are hand-harvested and vinified in either conical wooden vats or stainless steel tanks, depending on the plot, then aged for 14 months in new oak barrels.