Ah, Pomerol, you gorgeous thing. Home of gently rolling slopes, late autumn sun and fine wine’s famous Petrus, you hold a special place in our hearts. Many have fallen in love with your full-bodied reds. And Chateau Taillefer is the perfect distillation of all of the above. As classy as Petrus, as beautiful as sunny afternoons and as elegant as panoramic views.

The savvy investor is spoilt for choice when it comes to Bordeaux red wines. Should you go big with one of the first growths? Or should you stake your bets on a lesser-known (though no less prestigious) middle range 3rd, 4th or 5th growths? Or should you just hang it all and get caseload after caseload of (hopefully) the next big thing?

For those who are still hesitating, let us direct you towards Château Taillefer. One of the oldest properties in Pomerol (dating back to 1785), Taillefer was a bit of a non-starter in the 19th century, and thus missed out on a growth classification. This was primarily due to its sandy soil - seen at the time as far inferior terroir to the gravel and clay of Pomerol’s most famous resident, Petrus. Yet all that was to change, come the arrival of the Moueix family in 1923. The commercially minded Antoine saw the potential of having a vineyard with easy transport links, and thus invested heavily in turning Chateau Taillefer’s 12 hectares of prime Right Bank real estate from zero to hero. The rest, as they say, is history.

The name Taillefer comes from the iron-ore element that is found in the soil. Moueix saw the benefits of this and planted with a substantial amount of Cabernet Sauvignon. However, these vines have slowly been replaced by the Moueix heirs Claire and Antoine with Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Vines average around 30 years, meaning the Moueix took their time with the replanting to make sure their heritage remains intact.

Averaging around €32 (January 2020) a bottle, markets have been slow to pick up on Chateau Taillefer, despite its very reasonable price. This is good news for investors, as if the Bordeaux Blend trend continues into the next decade, consumers will want to cast their nets further afield. Taillefer is famed for its aging potential, which again, sparks good news for Vindome associates. A superb history, teamed with noble winemaking heritage and an excellent quality/price ratio. We say, what’s not to like?