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Talbot 2016

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

A very well-known Chateau throughout the world. En Primeur prices are usually reasonable and the popularity of the name ensures strong demand and increased prices when it is ready to drink. Not normally a wine to win blind tastings as it is relatively early-maturing, but always popular. The big, 105 hectare, vineyard is planted with 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Stephane Derenoncourt now consults here. maturation is in 50% new oak.

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Label

Tasting Notes

The 2016 Talbot has an airy, well-defined bouquet of blackberry, cedar and light minty aromas, perhaps more Pauillac than Saint-Julien. The medium-bodied palate delivers gritty tannins, a fine bead of acidity and a graphite-infused finish. This is very fine for Talbot, a Saint-Julien hewn in a typically classic style. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. 2022 - 2045

92
Neal Martin, vinous.com, August 2020

This is already a beautiful St.-Julien that’s ripe and elegant with not a jot too much oak or tannin, but a very fresh and lively finish that keeps on going. However, there are some serious reserves in this wine that need time to be released. Already very harmonious, but better from 2021.

94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2019

The 2016 Talbot is medium garnet-purple colored and opens with pretty floral notes of roses and lavender with a core of cassis, blackberry preserves and kirsch plus wafts of cigar box and spearmint. Medium-bodied with a lovely intensity of black and red fruit flavors, it has a ripe, grainy texture and compelling freshness, finishing savory. 2020 - 2036

92
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (Interim No), November 2018

Young and closed even as it clocks towards eight years old, but all of the building blocks of a brilliant wine are here. A little soft through the mid palate compared to some of its sibling 2016s, but this has charm, St Julien finesse, great length. Higher Merlot than usual because of the particular success of this variety, yet this remains full of Left Bank character - pencil lead, slate, woodsmoke, blackberry. Eric Boissenot consultant, 50% new oak for ageing, Jean-Pierre Marty director.

94
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2024

Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Rich and sweet. Pretty fluid and a bit tart on the end. Sweet and opulent. Quite flashy.
Drink 2025 – 2035

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2020

A very well-known Chateau throughout the world. En Primeur prices are usually reasonable and the popularity of the name ensures strong demand and increased prices when it is ready to drink. Not normally a wine to win blind tastings as it is relatively early-maturing, but always popular. The big, 105 hectare, vineyard is planted with 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Stephane Derenoncourt now consults here. maturation is in 50% new oak. 40% Merlot, 5% Pettit Verdot, and 55% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a high percentage of Merlot for the Chateau. This has translated to a riper-fruited nose of red and black cherries. The palate too is more round and supple, with silky tannins and middle plumpness that offers a polished structure and superb approachability. Fine and smooth on the finish, there are no hard edges to this juicy and forward offering from Talbot.

91+
Farr Vintners, April 2017

Brought up in 50% new oak, the 2016 Château Talbot is a winner and certainly over-delivers. Powerful notes of crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, lead pencil, and leafy herbs all give way to a silky, seamless Saint-Julien that has remarkable purity of fruit and building, fine tannins. It’s the texture as well as the purity that set this apart, and readers looking for a great value should purchase a case of this beauty. Drink 2023-2048.

93
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, February 2019

The nose appears quite closed fresh but the fruit on the palate is sweet and ripe. Rich in the middle depth of flavour concentrated black fruits supported by fine tannins. Rich fruit at the back the finish has depth of flavour. 2025-40

89/92
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 2017

This is the best young Talbot I’ve had for a while, underlining recent improvements at the château. Dense, chewy and made to last, with serious tannic structure, waves of damson and blueberry fruit, well handled oak and bright acidity. 2026-34

93
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2017
Read more tasting notes...

The 2016 Talbot takes a little coaxing from the glass. The almost Margaux-like nose features pure blackberry and black cherries, and violets come through with time. You just want it to give you more. The medium-bodied palate is a little gravelly and saline, with fine tannin and a structured finish that needs more finesse and complexity. This is a fine classic Talbot, though not in the same league as the appellation's front-runners. Drink 2022-2045

92
Neal Martin, vinous.com (Jan 2019), January 2019

The 2016 Talbot has a conservative bouquet with slightly leafy black fruit, a subtle earthiness that percolates through with time. At first, the aromatics seem standoffish, but you gradually warm to its charms. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp and tensile tannin. There is an edginess to this Talbot, and it does not quite possess the harmony and charm of other Saint Julien 2016s. But, there is personality here—a bit curmudgeonly and yet you keep going back to take another sip. One to watch. Drink 2022 - 2045.

90/92
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (230), April 2017

A full-bodied red that stays in check with a firm and lightly chewy tannin backbone. Full body and an intense finish. Shows excellent potential.

93/94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2017

Jean-Michel Laporte (previously at La Conseillante) arrived as technical director in 2018, just as this wine was being bottled, and it's not a bad vintage to usher him in to the world of Château Talbot. I drank this at friend's house a few months ago, and it had been open 24 hours by the time we were pouring it out, which just might be the ideal time, as the tannins were soft and open, and everything felt plush and welcoming. It has the balance of the appellation, the precision that Talbot has increasingly showcased over the past few years, and a sappy feel to the tannins. 50% new oak. Stéphane Derenoncourt as consultant, with Eric Boissenot.

94
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, October 2021

Lovely deep damson colour with violet edging that suggests a healthy pH. Great balance of fruit and acidity, this is one of the fresher wines of the appellation. The fruit is cleanly extracted, fresh and well paced, with a lovely layer of complexity driven by smoke-edged mineral notes. Aged in 50% new oak.

Drinking Window 2027 - 2050

94
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, April 2017

Very dark and shiny. Not that intense but very well mannered. Sweet, almost thick, start. Very flattering. If I had to choose one wine to represent the vintage in typical style I might well choose this one – though the hint of heat on the end is a little worrying. Should be rewarding in the end. Great harmony.
Drink 2025-2045

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2017
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.