Château du Taillan, in the Haut-Médoc appellation, features an 18th-century castle and underground cellars which are listed as Historic Monuments. This family-owned property was acquired by Henri Cruse in 1896. Since then, four generations have come and gone, with the fifth currently running the domaine. The vines cover 30 hectares - at the heart of a domaine covering around a hundred hectares - two of which are Sauvignon Blanc (quite a rarity in the Médoc), the rest being planted with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Château du Taillan produces an excellent, refined cru bourgeois at a very reasonable price. It is also strongly involved in wine tourism (more than 10,000 visitors per year).

Château Taillan's grand vin spends 12-18 months maturing in barrels. On the nose, it expresses attractive red berry aromas with slight vanilla notes. A good balance on the palate, with body and freshness; tannins are evident but well-integrated, with considerable length. The perfect accompaniment for red meat or game bird dishes.