The En-Primeur Insider: Fifth Edition, with Alistair Cooper MW
"Floral and violet notes on the nose mingle with some cinnamon spice. Superb extraction of tannins, precise and almost like gentle pinpricks over the mouth, excellent oak integration in a medium bodied style. A cloud of ripe and succulent dark fruits, mulbery and pepper leads to a long and textured finish. This carries itself so well and I suspect will become a really lovely wine in the coming years."
-16.5+PTS, Alistair Cooper MW for JancisRobinson.com
Chateau Taillefer is one of the oldest properties in the Pomerol appellation dating back to at least 1785. The chateau was built in the early 1800’s. Chateau Taillefer is historic for another reason, it is the first property purchased by the Moueix dynasty, who own several key estates throughout Bordeaux and the Napa Valley. Antoine Moueix bought the estate in 1923, and the family still owns it today!
History of the Region
If you look back at the history of Pomerol, it lacks the long history of the appellations of the Left Bank. Whilst they can trace their history back over a thousand years, vineyards in Pomerol were only intermittently established in this relatively infertile tract of land; it was just too hard to establish vines on- especially Cabernet Sauvignon. It wasn’t until the late 15th century that anyone bothered to grow grapes here. In fact, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that there was any record of the wines of Pomerol gaining any respect. So needless to say, the famous ‘Classification of 1855’ made no mention of any wine from Pomerol, and that’s the way it has stayed ever since!
- Alistair Cooper,
Master of Wine & Esteemed Critic