| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
A very well-known château 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 consults here. Jean-Michel Laporte (formerly of La Conseillante) is now in charge here and he is certainly upping the quality. There is now more body, depth and power than the Talbots of the past, but it is still fairly approachable at an early age.
The 2021 Talbot offers up aromas of black fruits, licorice and toasty oak, followed by a medium-bodied palate with a fleshy attack that segues into a concentrated but also somewhat firm, angular palate. It will require a bit of patience. Drink Date: 2027 - 2040
The 2021 is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. The yield was 44 hl/ha - a bit more than last year. Mid ruby-purple in colour. Sweet red fruit, with a lightly sanguin, iron tone that adds a savoury, moreish character. The palate is juicy and refined, with an effortless intensity and elegance. Cool hedgerow fruit and fine, ripe tannins make for a compact and classic style. This is a very good example of working with the vintage rather than trying to force a different style. Long with pure blue fruit on the finish.
A fruity and attractive 2021 with currant and berry aromas and flavors. Hints of citrus. Medium body. Fresh finish.
The 2021 Talbot is composed of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, harvested from 27 September to 11 October, and aging in 60% new oak. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it gives up notes of black raspberries, red plum preserves, and cassis, plus hints of tar, cedar, and charcuterie. Light-bodied, it is clean and savory in the mouth with chewy tannins and a woody finish. pH 3.71.
2025-2035
This feels old school in the best way, a nod to the classic vintages of the past, with concentration and structure, powerful but savoury and sculpted cassis and blackberry fruits, curls of bitter black chocolate and spice. Great quality. 44hl/h yield, and a natural 12% alcohol, really leaning into the vintage, successfully so.
71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Cask sample.
Open and aromatic with blackcurrant and mineral notes. Palate unusually seductive at this stage, the fruit supple and tannins finely honed. Some grip and drive on the finish. Medium-bodied and compact, if not quite the depth of a top year. (JL)
Drink 2028 – 2038
The 2021 Talbot is promising, exhibiting aromas of wild berries, cherries, cigar wrapper and sweet spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety palate that's bright and seamless, with an enveloping, charming profile despite analytically rather high levels of polyphenols. This is a fine effort that reminds Jean-Michel Laporte of the 2001 vintage in style—though the 2021 will benefit from all the improvements that the last two decades have witnessed at this address. Tasted four times.
