2018 Chateau Talbot

大寶 2018 帶著聖朱利安那種穩重優雅的風格：打開杯蓋先是濃郁的黑果香，接著飄出雪茄、烘焙咖啡與甘草的層次，還有一抹礦物與香草氣息。口感飽滿但不笨重，果味豐富且飽和，丹寧細緻卻有支撐感，收結長而乾淨。酒莊以家族經營超過百年著稱，葡萄園位於礫質地塊（面積逾100公頃）、植株密度高、平均樹齡約50年，採傳統四向耕作與雙冠芽修枝以維持根系健康。釀造上以人工與光學分選把關，於橡木桶（16個月、60%新桶）中熟成，讓果實與橡木優雅融合。建議醒酒1小時左右，搭牛排、燒烤或陳年硬乳酪最合適，氣氛悠閒時也很討喜。

2018 Château Talbot is a classic Saint-Julien with depth and poise. Aromas open to ripe black fruits, cassis and blackberry, layered with tobacco, cedar, dark chocolate and a hint of espresso and licorice. On the palate it is concentrated and plush yet structured — lush fruit framed by silky, civilized tannins and a mineral, persistent finish. Producer notes emphasise Talbot’s dependable, expansive character and aging potential; the 2018 shows that generosity while retaining class. Winemaking combined careful manual and optical sorting, fermentation in oak vats and 16 months maturation in barrels (60% new) to integrate ripe fruit with refined oak. The estate (over 100 ha of vines) sits on gravelly Médoc soils, with high planting density, average vine age c.50 years, Medoc double guyot pruning and traditional ploughing. Drink now with 1–1.5 hours decanting for immediate pleasure, or cellar for further development through 2040s.

Specification

• Alcohol %: 14 - 14.5%
• Decant Time: 60-90 minutes
• Taste: blackcurrant, blackberry, dark chocolate, tobacco, licorice, espresso, cedar, mineral, silky tannins, long finish
• Food Matching: Beef rib / roast, Lamb rack with herb crust, Braised beef, Venison / game, Aged hard cheeses (e.g. Manchego)
• Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon : 66%, Merlot : 29%, Petit Verdot : 5%, Cabernet Franc , Malbec , Other ,

Winery

大寶酒莊（Château Talbot）為1855年分級之四級酒莊，家族 Bignon-Cordier 世代經營逾百年，葡萄園面積廣大且分佈於聖朱利安優良礫質地塊。酒莊重視田間管理與果實分選，採傳統耕作與人工＋機器分選，酒體風格穩健且友善老化，丹寧溫潤、果實成熟，是典型能長期收藏的波爾多風格。

Château Talbot is a historic Médoc estate classified as a 4ème Cru in 1855 and run by the Bignon-Cordier family for over a century. With more than 100 hectares of vineyards in Saint-Julien, Talbot is prized for consistency, an expansive, approachable character and wines that marry ripe fruit with silky, civilized tannins. The team emphasizes careful sorting, traditional viticulture and oak ageing to craft wines built for mid- to long-term aging.