Château Talbot 1994

Characteristics and tasting notes for Château Talbot 1994

Tasting notes

Appearance
The colour reveals a deep ruby hue, reflecting a beautiful evolution.

Nose
Mature and wonderfully complex, the bouquet releases rich tertiary aromas of dried black fruits such as blackcurrant, plum and fig. Subtle notes of leather, cedar, tobacco and graphite intertwine with spicy, earthy touches.

Palate
Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers a particularly smooth texture and remarkably supple tannins for this vintage. The luscious flavours of dried fruit, mocha and dark chocolate stretch into a lingering finish, marked by cedar and a delicate minerality.

Food and wine pairing

This great red wine pairs perfectly with roasted or braised meats such as a rack of lamb or a rib of beef. It also goes wonderfully with game in sauce as well as mature hard cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Fully mature, this Château Talbot 1994 is ideal to enjoy right now. It is recommended to serve it at a temperature of around 17°C and to decant it gently before serving should it show slight signs of reduction.

The elegance and complexity of a Saint-Julien wine

The estate

Classified as a Fourth Growth in 1855, Château Talbot is a landmark estate in Bordeaux. While its name recalls a battle from 1453, the modern estate truly took flight when it was acquired in 1918 by Désiré Cordier. Today, Nancy Bignon-Cordier and her husband Jean-Paul Bignon oversee this vast vineyard, carrying on more than a century of family heritage. Renowned for the consistency and generosity of its wines, the estate is also notable for producing a rare white Médoc wine.

The vineyard

A rarity on the left bank, the vineyard spans 110 hectares in a single block around the family residence, at the heart of the Saint-Julien appellation. Ideally located near the Gironde estuary, the vines thrive on gravelly alluvial rises resting on a fossil-rich limestone subsoil. This exceptional terroir, benefiting from excellent natural drainage and a regulating microclimate, allows for the production of highly concentrated grapes.

The vintage

The year 1994 began with a mild winter, followed by a difficult spring marked by heavy rains and episodes of frost. After a stormy start to summer, weather conditions improved very favourably towards the end of the season. This late clemency allowed the berries to reach good ripeness and the harvest to take place under good conditions.

Winemaking and ageing

Crafted with guidance from renowned oenologists, Château Talbot 1994 benefits from carefully controlled extraction in tanks aimed at preserving the suppleness of the tannins. The wine is then aged in oak barrels, giving it its aromatic complexity and delicate woody notes.

Grape varieties

This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (67%), Merlot (27%), Petit Verdot (4.5%) and Cabernet Franc (1.5%).