Chateau Taillefer Pomerol Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Taillefer Chateau

Learn everything about Chateau Taillefer Pomerol with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux:Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Taillefer History, Overview

Chateau Taillefer is the first major estate you see as you enter Pomerol from the west, or while you exit the highway on the A89 from the direction of Catusseau. Chateau Taillefer is also one of the oldest properties in the Pomerol appellation dating back to at least 1785.

The chateau was built in the early 1800s. Chateau Taillefer is historic for another reason, it is the first property purchased by the Moueix dynasty. Antoine Moueix bought the estate in 1923.

Chateau Taillefer remains in the Moueix family’s hands today. Interestingly, at the time of the purchase, due to its sandy soils, the vineyard was not known to possess the best terroir in Pomerol. But it had one advantage the other estates in the region did not have.

Chateau Taillefer was located close to the business center of Libourne, which made it easy to transport the wine by train to various locations and get the wine into different markets.

Chateau Taillefer Vineyard, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking
The 12-hectare, Right Bank vineyard of Chateau Taillefer is planted to 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. This represents a continuing change in the vineyard as Chateau Taillefer has over the years removed the substantial amount of Cabernet Sauvignon from their vineyard while continuing to increase the Merlot. This process is being done slowly, to maintain the average vine age at close to 30 years of age.

The terroir is sand and gravel with deposits of iron in the soils. In fact, the iron in the soil is where the estate found the inspiration for its name, as Taillefer comes from the phrase to cut iron, which is a reference to the iron in the terroir. The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 6,000 vines per hectare.

Most of the vineyard is located close to the chateau with sand and gravel soils. But they also have vines planted in gravel soils that are well placed, not too far from Chateau Figeac in St. Emilion.

To produce the wine of Chateau Taillefer, vinification takes place in temperature, controlled, traditional concrete vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in a combination of cement vats and French oak barrels. The wine is aged in 33% new, French oak barrels for about 15 months. On average, 4,000 cases a year are produced of Chateau Taillefer. There is a second wine, Chateau Fontmarty.

The best vintages of Chateau Taillefer are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2010, 2009 and 2005. It is important to note that starting with the 2018 vintage, the wine made at Chateau Taillefer has made a big jump in quality.

When to Drink Chateau Taillefer, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Taillefer can be enjoyed on the young side with an hour of decanting. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. However, I find the wine is usually better with 3-6 years of bottle age.

Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. In the best years, the wine will best between 4 to 12 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Taillefer with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Taillefer is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Taillefer is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Taillefer is also good when matched with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, pasta and cheese.

Château Taillefer Wine Tasting Notes

17 Vintages 55,385 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022
90
Soft, creamy, supple, and plummy, the wine is medium-bodied, elegant and with more sweetness, and flesh than usual. The freshness in the finish gives everything lift. This will be quite nice to enjoy in its youth and over the next 12 -15 years or so. Drink from 2025-2037. 89-91 Pts.

Soft, creamy, supple, and plummy, the wine is medium-bodied, elegant and with more sweetness, and flesh than usual. The freshness in the finish gives everything lift. This will be quite nice to enjoy in its youth and over the next 12 -15 years or so. Drink from 2025-2037. 89-91 Pts.

2,299 Views   Tasted
2021
89
Flowers and cherries pop in the nose with its initial swirl. The medium-bodied, soft, fresh,, vibrant palate offers its plums, cherries, savory herbs, spice and cocoa effortlessly. This is a pop, pour and enjoy Pomerol. Drink from 2024-2032.

Flowers and cherries pop in the nose with its initial swirl. The medium-bodied, soft, fresh,, vibrant palate offers its plums, cherries, savory herbs, spice and cocoa effortlessly. This is a pop, pour and enjoy Pomerol. Drink from 2024-2032.

178 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, soft, fresh and fruity, with a sweetness to the bright red fruits and a touch of cocoa on the palate and in the finish. This will be quite nice to enjoy in its youth and over the next 12 -15 years or so. Drink from 2023-2035. 88-90

Medium-bodied, soft, fresh and fruity, with a sweetness to the bright red fruits and a touch of cocoa on the palate and in the finish. This will be quite nice to enjoy in its youth and over the next 12 -15 years or so. Drink from 2023-2035. 88-90

1,692 Views   Tasted
2020
90
Medium-bodied, soft, elegant, fresh, bright, clean and pure, this silky-textured, cherry and fresh red plum oriented wine is ready-to-go as it is simply delicious in your glass today. The wine finishes with a nice touch of chocolate that comes in at the end of the vibrant endnote. Drink from 2023-2035.

Medium-bodied, soft, elegant, fresh, bright, clean and pure, this silky-textured, cherry and fresh red plum oriented wine is ready-to-go as it is simply delicious in your glass today. The wine finishes with a nice touch of chocolate that comes in at the end of the vibrant endnote. Drink from 2023-2035.

1,399 Views   Tasted
Elegant, fresh, bright, clean and pure, this cherry and red plum oriented wine is already showing well, finishing with soft textures and freshness on its red plum filled palate. 89-91 Pts

Elegant, fresh, bright, clean and pure, this cherry and red plum oriented wine is already showing well, finishing with soft textures and freshness on its red plum filled palate. 89-91 Pts

2,252 Views   Tasted
2019
90
Medium-bodied, fresh, easy-going, soft textured, classic styled Pomerol wine with ripe red plums, thyme and earthy nuances on the palate and in the finish. 89-91 Pts

Medium-bodied, fresh, easy-going, soft textured, classic styled Pomerol wine with ripe red plums, thyme and earthy nuances on the palate and in the finish. 89-91 Pts

3,575 Views   Tasted
2018
91
Showing much better in barrel than in bottle, the wine offers loads of ripe, supple textured, red fruits, hints of licorice, and coffee bean. Round, medium-bodied, fresh and fruity, this is already showing quite well and has room for improvement with aging.

Showing much better in barrel than in bottle, the wine offers loads of ripe, supple textured, red fruits, hints of licorice, and coffee bean. Round, medium-bodied, fresh and fruity, this is already showing quite well and has room for improvement with aging.

1,523 Views   Tasted
Medium bodied, soft and floral with a core of sweet, ripe cherries and cocoa, this elegant, lighter styled Pomerol will drink well in its youth.

Medium bodied, soft and floral with a core of sweet, ripe cherries and cocoa, this elegant, lighter styled Pomerol will drink well in its youth.

2,120 Views   Tasted
2017
88
This medium-bodied wine with its soft earthiness, red fruit and spicy accents will be best in the first decade of life.

This medium-bodied wine with its soft earthiness, red fruit and spicy accents will be best in the first decade of life.

2,079 Views   Tasted
2016
89
Perhaps the best wine ever produced here. Floral in nature, with a juicy, red and black plum with truffle character, soft tannins, and ample freshness in the medium bodied, red berry finish.

Perhaps the best wine ever produced here. Floral in nature, with a juicy, red and black plum with truffle character, soft tannins, and ample freshness in the medium bodied, red berry finish.

2,927 Views   Tasted
2015
87
Medium-bodied with thyme, fresh herbs, cherries and a forward style, this wine will drink well young. 86 - 88 Pts

Medium-bodied with thyme, fresh herbs, cherries and a forward style, this wine will drink well young. 86 - 88 Pts

3,794 Views   Tasted
2014
85
Light in color, fruit and length, there is a fresh, bright cherry center in the finish. 84-86 Pts

Light in color, fruit and length, there is a fresh, bright cherry center in the finish. 84-86 Pts

3,156 Views   Tasted
2013
83
Light in color with weight and fruit, the wine is on the tart, rustic side of Pomerol. 82-84 Pts

Light in color with weight and fruit, the wine is on the tart, rustic side of Pomerol. 82-84 Pts

2,292 Views   Tasted
2012
85
Bright, sweet and tart red fruits with a strong olive and herb component, this will be best tasted in its youth for its fresh, bright, red berry character.

Bright, sweet and tart red fruits with a strong olive and herb component, this will be best tasted in its youth for its fresh, bright, red berry character.

4,487 Views   Tasted
2011
85
Medium bodied, simple, easy going, cherry and red dominated wine, which takes little effort to enjoy. There is not much complexity, but there are no faults found here either.

Medium bodied, simple, easy going, cherry and red dominated wine, which takes little effort to enjoy. There is not much complexity, but there are no faults found here either.

2,405 Views   Tasted
2010
88
Light, feminine, medium bodied and focused on the red red berry side side of the style range. There are no real faults here, but it lacks the depth and sensuality of what makes Pomerol great.

Light, feminine, medium bodied and focused on the red red berry side side of the style range. There are no real faults here, but it lacks the depth and sensuality of what makes Pomerol great.

4,080 Views   Tasted
2009
88
This medium bodied, lighter style of Pomerol serves up a healthy dose of bright red cherries and raspberry, with hints of oak and earth. I'd drink this on the young side.

This medium bodied, lighter style of Pomerol serves up a healthy dose of bright red cherries and raspberry, with hints of oak and earth. I'd drink this on the young side.

4,545 Views   Tasted
2005
85
Medium bodied, light in style, with plum, licorice and hints of wet earth, this mature, ready to drink Pomerol ends with an array of fresh red plum and cherry notes.

Medium bodied, light in style, with plum, licorice and hints of wet earth, this mature, ready to drink Pomerol ends with an array of fresh red plum and cherry notes.

4,797 Views   Tasted
2001
87
Fully mature, medium bodied, and on the red fruit side of the style range, with soft, sweet and tart, red cherries, spice, earth and plums on the nose and in the mouth.

Fully mature, medium bodied, and on the red fruit side of the style range, with soft, sweet and tart, red cherries, spice, earth and plums on the nose and in the mouth.

2,551 Views   Tasted
2000
88
This ready to drink, medium bodied wine delivers a plum, cherry, earth and cocoa profile, soft textures and a round, cherry finish.

This ready to drink, medium bodied wine delivers a plum, cherry, earth and cocoa profile, soft textures and a round, cherry finish.

3,234 Views   Tasted