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Chateau Teyssier

Chateau Teyssier is a (St Emilion) located in Vignonet, one of the five St Emilion communes. The property has a long history of wine production, stretching back as far as 1714 when it was little more than a farm. Things stepped up a gear when the estate was purchased by historian Jules Roy in 1869, who constructed a grand chateau and tidied up the vineyards. From then on little changed at Chateau Teyssier, until the arrival of Jonathan and Lyn Maltus in 1994.

Jonathan Maltus had big plans for Chateau Teyssier. Not only was there extensive modernisation in the winery and cellar, but there was also a second winery constructed. Old concrete vats were replaced with stainless steel, and in fact a second, entirely new winery was constructed for the sole purpose of vinifying the single vineyard wines. The chateau, which had fallen some way towards a state of disrepair, also saw some restoration, and within a few years a state-of-the-art bottling line was installed. New vineyards were added to the Maltus portfolio, and the wine now sources fruit from plots in Vignonet, St Sulpice de Faleyrens and St Emilion. The grand vin is Chateau Teyssier, but fruit from the St Emilion vines - which are predominantly Cabernet Franc - is used for Jonathon Maltus' garage-wine, Le Dome, which commands a much higher price-tag. In 1998 Chateau Laforge was added to the portfolio, and the wine is vinified at Chateau Teyssier, with a similar ethos to that behind Le Dome. And then there is Clos Nardian, a Semillon-Sauvignon-Muscadelle blend - a standard recipe for white Bordeaux, but it is unusual to find such a wine originating from this region of the right bank. In addition Maltus produces a range of Bordeaux AC wines under the Chateau Lacroix label. (9/7/03)

Contact details:
Address: Chateau Teyssier, 33330 St-Emilion
Telephone: +33 (0) 5 57 84 64 22
Fax +33 (0) 5 57 84 63 54
Internet: www.teyssier.fr

Chateau Teyssier - Tasting Notes

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2004

Chateau Teyssier (St Emilion) 2004: A really dark hue here, very dense right out to the rim. It has a slightly reserved but very promising nose, with dark fruits and fading notes of honeyed oak. Nice weight on the palate, creamy, but quite cool in style, before it shows a denser, more meaty side through the midpalate. This has a fine, firm style with a good backbone of acidity and ripe tannins at the finish. Very good indeed, and a good deal at this price which results from overstocking. From the 2007 CIVB tasting. 16.5-17+/20 (October 2007)

2001

Chateau Teyssier (St Emilion) 2001: Having enjoyed the 1998-2000 vintages, I thought this might be good with the venison. Decanted for an hour or so before tasting - thank heavens it wasn't corked. Good deep colour, and early evolution on the nose which shows a meaty, secondary edge to the fruit. A little featureless on the palate, however, which seems to lag behind the nose a little. I suspect this needs time in the cellar to develop, although it performed well on the night, demonstrating a good texture and nice, slightly marrowy mouthfeel. Good. Tasted at The Tower Restaurant. 16.5/20 (May 2006)

2000

Chateau Teyssier (St Emilion) 2000: This wine has a glossy character to it's dark, red-purple hue. It seems dense and youthful on the nose, which is a combination of perfumed fruit and evident oak. On the palate it is full, rich and creamy, and yet it has balance - in an opulent kind of way. There are plenty of spicy tannins in the background, and on the finish also, and there is low acidity. It's typical of the 2000 vintage. Lovely wine 17/20 (July 2003)

1999

Chateau Teyssier (St Emilion) 1999: This wine has a dark, inky, red-purple colour, with more of an earthy hue than the other two. On the nose there are piles of fruit and plenty of smoke, charcoal and toasty oak. Full and spicy, medium bodied on the palate, with ripe, supple tannins, and some grip. There's an abundance of peppery, vanillin oak. Although there is plenty going on here it is all nicely balanced, and this wine should integrate nicely with another year or two in the cellar. That isn't to say that it isn't approachable now! Lovely wine. 16.5/20 (July 2003)

1998

Chateau Teyssier (St Emilion) 1998: A dark, red-purple wine. This has the most elegant nose of this trio, with plenty of perfumed fruit. Nevertheless, there is still plenty of oak yet to integrate, and it remains painfully youthful. On the palate it is full, ripe, smoothly textured and creamy - although there is good grip backing it up. This is lovely, balanced wine. Acidity is a touch low but it's quite appropriate. Plenty of tannin on the finish - needs another two or three years in the cellar. 17/20 (July 2003)