Château Talbot Connétable Saint-Julien 10

The second wine of Château Talbot, the Fourth Growth of Saint-Julien named for John Talbot, Constable of England and last English commander at the Battle of Castillon in 1453 — and held by the Cordier family for over a century. Connétable was among the Médoc's very first second wines, drawn from the same 105-hectare gravel plateau as the grand vin through increasingly strict selection. From the legendary 2010 vintage — one of Bordeaux's greatest of the modern era — this Cabernet-led blend with Merlot and Petit Verdot has now blossomed into full maturity: ripe currant and chocolate wrapped in cedar, leather, mint, and dried herbs, silky and full with resolved, fine-grained tannins and a long, fresh finish. Classified-growth pedigree and sixteen years of cellar age at a fraction of the grand vin's price — decant briefly and serve with roast lamb, ribeye, or duck.

Wine Details:

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Petit Verdot

ABV: 13.5%

Region: Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France

Farming / Practices: Estate fruit from Château Talbot's single-block gravel vineyard, traditionally plowed; rigorous vineyard and sorting-table selection, classic Médoc élevage in oak

Producer: Château Talbot, 4th Grand Cru Classé (1855); Cordier family for over 100 years

Bottle Size: 750ml