Big and rich, this balanced and accessible wine is generous both with its black fruits and smooth texture. The density and core of tannins do not detract from the full, fruity character.
Reviews:
- Wine Enthusiast: Big and rich, this balanced and accessible wine is generous both with its black fruits and smooth texture. The density and core of tannins do not detract from the full, fruity character. The wine will develop quickly. Drink from 2023.
- James Suckling: Currant, dried-flower, citrus-zest, and sandalwood aromas, with hints of sliced mushrooms. It’s medium-to-full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins and fresh acidity. Fragrant, pretty, and precise. Really fine.
Producer Information
Château Teyssier is a well-regarded wine estate in the Saint-Emilion region of northeastern Bordeaux. The château and winery buildings form the core of the JCP Maltus / SCEA Château Teyssier group, which has labels from both Bordeaux and California. Founder Jonathan Maltus is also owner and winemaker of the renowned Le Dôme “garage” wine. The château is based six kilometers (3.7 miles) due south of Saint-Emilion town and sits on the lower plain of the appellation, just north of the Dordogne river. Most of the vines are located near Château Monbousquet, some distance from Teyssier. Soils are mainly sandy with some iron deposits. The Château Teyssier wine is typically a blend of 85 percent Merlot and 15 percent Cabernet Franc. Grapes are handpicked and sorted firstly by bunch then, after destemming, berry by berry. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks after a cold maceration; the wines are then aged in French oak barrels, one-third of which are new. Château Laforge is the other multi-parcel Saint-Émilion Grand Cru label in the stable, and has the most Merlot of any wine in the portfolio (92 percent). Before its purchase in 1998 it was known as Petit Mauvinon. In addition, five single-vineyard grands crus were vinified at Teyssier of which Le Dôme is the best known (although it now has its own dedicated site). Le Dôme was one of the original members of the “garage” movement of the 1990s, and one of a handful which then challenged the top-end Cru Classé wines on a regular basis.
