2019 Caillou Blanc du Ch Talbot
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Tasting notes
Vibrant yellow, fully ripe and engaging, orange peel, pink grapefruit, apricot, with character and exotic richness and a welcome oyster shell salinity as it opens in the glass. White grapes were planted here in the late 1920s, and the brand created in the 1950s, making it one of the oldest in the Medoc. They harvest late to avoid too much Sauvignon Blanc stereotype character, press in whole bunches to give edge of salinity, then barrel ferment in one third new oak, 7 months with two months lees stirring + 7 months bottle ageing before release.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
More reviews and scores
The 2019 Caillou Blanc has a lovely nose, the Sémillon component quite expressive, with scents of honeysuckle, linden and wild peach, all well defined. The wild peach theme continues on the balanced palate, joined by passion fruit and a touch of dried banana. Add a little spice on the finish and you have a fine white from Talbot.
Orange peel touches on the attack, and there is grip through the core here, with nectarine pit, white peach flesh, grilled oak. Tasted twice, second time out in the vineyards among the plot where the vines are grown - much of which is on a deep gravel plot directly in front on the main château building surrounded by plots of Cabernet Sauvignon. Great terroir that proves a clear commitment to one of the oldest white wines in the Médoc.
About the producer
Quality has not necessarily always lived up to this property’s Fourth Growth status, however there have been significant improvements in recent years, with a sustainable focus in the vineyard, and new winery and cellar.