From the legendary vintage 2000!! Château Taillefer is one of the largest wine estates in the small but well-regarded Pomerol wine region of northeastern Bordeaux. The 12 hectares (30 acres) of vineyards encircling the château are planted to just two grape varieties: Merlot (75 percent) and Cabernet Franc (25 percent). The predominance of Merlot in the vineyards is also reflected in the composition of the estate's grand vin. The château was acquired by Antoine Moueix in 1923. Originally a farmer in Corrèze, Moueix decided to switch paths and become a wine merchant after leaving military service in the Libourne area. In 1953, he expanded his portfolio with the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru estate, Château Tauzinat l'Hermitage. Since then, successive members of the Moueix family have inherited the two estates, and today the properties are managed by Claire and Antoine Moueix and the property forms part of the Domaines Bernard Moueix portfolio. Château Taillefer's vineyards are located on the south-facing slopes of the Pomerol plateau, just northeast of the town of Libourne. The 30-year-old vines are maintained and picked by hand and then transferred to the winery for vinification. Here, the Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes are destemmed, crushed and fermented in temperature-controlled cement tanks before an élévage (aging) of 12 months in oak barrels.