History
“As an ordinary winegrower, who is passionately attached to his vines, I will simply recount the efforts through which these renowned wines are made. They are fundamentally natural and their perfection and beneficial qualities are a source of justified pride for us all. It has been proven time and time again that to be and remain the owner of a renowned estate requires a true aristocracy that is in tune with that of the property and its wines. Everything must be sacrificed to it, the most important being all gain (…). Therefore to be an estate owner means, in a certain way, being in love with it.”Désiré Cordier (1861 – 1940)
On the shore of an ocean of vines among its park & tall trees, one catches sight of Château Talbot in the distance from the plateau of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle. The estate has a rich history. Its name originates with Connétable Talbot, a famous English warrior, governor of Guyenne, defeated at the battle of Castillon in 1453.
In 1855, at the time of the Médoc and Graves growth classifications ordered by Emperor Napoléon III, Château Talbot was ranked fourth classified growth of Saint-Julien. For several decades it belonged to the Marquis of Aux. In 1917 Désiré Cordier acquired it. His son Georges, then his grandson, Jean, followed him at the head of the estate. Under their guidance, Talbot became one of the most famous growths in the Bordeaux region.
Upon the death of Jean Cordier during the autumn of 1993 his daughters, Lorraine and Nancy, took over the reins of Talbot. Enriched with the still vivid memory of knowledge and experience of past generations, which preceded them, Lorraine and Nancy formed a team that for more than 15 years animated this Grand Cru with all the talent and respect that it merited. Spring 2011 brought sad news – that of the untimely passing away of Lorraine Cordier. Today, Nancy Bignon Cordier and her husband, Jean-Paul Bignon, pursue the history of Talbot; a long history which has always united with passion the destiny of a family to that of a vineyard.
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