Farr Vintners Logo

Talbot 1996

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Talbot

Label

Tasting Notes

Delicious, yet more proof of how this corner of Bordeaux excelled in 1996, and the drinking window is still going strong. Grilled earth, tobacco leaf, crushed mint, dried roses, liqourice, brambled autumnal fruit, fine tannins with a trace of dryness, but full of pleasure. Christian Hostein cellar master, 50% new oak for ageing.

94
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2024
89
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (4), December 2003

Bright crimson with some age on the rim. Sweet, mild nose vaguely reminiscent of a malted milk drink. Full, complete, fully ripe and should satisfy both modernists and classicists. Chewy finish but lots of ripe fruit in the middle. Drying tannins on the finish. Drink 2009-20

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, September 2006
92-
Farr Vintners, 1996 Bordeaux Blind Tasting 8/9/2006, September 2006
Read more tasting notes...

I tasted this wine three times in January, rating it 88, 89, and 90 with similar tasting notes. The wine is close to being outstanding, exhibiting a saturated dark ruby color, and excellent aromatics, consisting of black fruits intermixed with licorice, dried herbs, and roasted meat smells. It is full, with impressive extract, a fleshy texture, low acidity, excellent purity, and a long, deep, chewy finish. This 1996 will be drinkable at a young age, yet keep for 15-20 years. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2017.

89
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (122), April 1999
87/89
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (3), November 1998

The 1996 Talbot is an excellent effort from this large St Julien estate. Black/ruby/purple- colored, with a pronounced nose of Provencal Olives, black currants, licorice, and Asian spices, this is a powerful, dense, richly fruity wine with fine intensity, moderate tannin, and medium body. This attractive St Julien will be one of a handful of 1996s that can be drunk a few years after bottling.

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (115), February 1998
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.

Back to Wine List