Talbot
Chateau Talbot is named after Connetable Talbot an Englishman and governor of Guyenne who died in the battle of Castillon in 1453. This big single plot estate in St Julien regularly exceeds its classification. Their wine has soft fruit with a sturdy structure that ages well. They also make a small amount of excellent white.
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (87-89)
The 2021 Connetable Talbot is a very pretty second wine. Dried herbs, tobacco, mint, spice and leather give the Connetable its strong, savory personality. There is a bit of reduction, but good depth as well as potential.Inc. VAT£291.89 -
Inc. VAT£284.69
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Wine Spectator (95)
Rock 'em, sock 'em St.-Julien, with mouthcoating ganache and tar notes backed by commensurate cassis, blueberry paste and blackberry reduction flavors. The long finish rumbles through, with buried brambly grip providing the support for the dense fruit and toast to meld. Best from 2025 through 2040. 29,833 cases made.Inc. VAT£531.64 -
James Suckling (94-95)
Very attractive core of pretty fruit and polished yet chewy tannins. Medium to full body, integrated tannins and a driven finish. One of the best Talbots in a long time.Inc. VAT£331.24 -
James Suckling (94-95)
A juicy, fruity wine with lots of blue fruit, blackberries and dark chocolate. Pretty depth and structure to this. Polished and structured at the same time.Inc. VAT£319.24 -
Decanter (95)
This is a great Talbot, a real success for the château. Subtle and deft touches throughout, from the smoked turmeric notes that lace the black fruits to the finessed aromatics that accompany the body of the wine. Balance and freshness, and a saline edge to the finish that is extremely moreish. Three years with Jean-Michel Laporte as director and he is doing great work.Inc. VAT£471.64 -
The Drinks Business (92-94)
Talbot (St Julien; 71% Cabernet Sauvignon; 24% Merlot; 5% Petit Verdot; 12% alcohol; a final yield of 44 hl/ha; tasted at the UGCB press tasting and at Lagrange with very similar notes). This, too, is very impressive and continues a steep upward trajectory since around 2018. On the nose, one is struck first by the ripeness and the associated natural sweetness of the fruit; I find walnuts and a dark stone and berry fruit – mulberries and sloes and damsons – and then, with air, all the cedar that defines this as Talbot. On the palate, this cool summer edition of Talbot comes across as quite serious even slightly austere, with a lovely tight, compact, dense core that stays closely strapped to the notable spine. In the context of the vintage, this is a great wine and clearly the product of a very strict selection. It has a beautiful texture, structure and mouthfeel. I particularly like the sinuous and luminous mid-palate. Tasted blind, I might well have mistaken this for Gruaud Larose (something that would not have been possible even a few vintages ago). Tasted a second time, I find it closest in style to Gruaud Larose; both properties continue their parallel upward trajectories in this vintageInc. VAT£501.89 -
James Suckling (94-95)
A medium- to full-bodied red with very fine tannins. It’s firm and structured, showing a bright, dark-fruited character. Focused, with a good center-palate and a lingering finish. Really polished.Inc. VAT£300.29 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (90)
The 2020 Caillou de Talbot Blanc, bottled a month prior to my visit, has a pretty lime and grapefruit scented nose. Hints of white tea emerge with time. The palate is well balanced with almond and caramelized pear notes, a touch of stem ginger emerging with time. Quite spicy, somehow, I can imagine this partnering Asian food with style thank to a scintilla of Muscat lingering on the aftertaste.Inc. VAT£362.69
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (87-89)
The 2021 Connetable Talbot is a very pretty second wine. Dried herbs, tobacco, mint, spice and leather give the Connetable its strong, savory personality. There is a bit of reduction, but good depth as well as potential.In Bond£224.00 -
In Bond£218.00
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Wine Spectator (95)
Rock 'em, sock 'em St.-Julien, with mouthcoating ganache and tar notes backed by commensurate cassis, blueberry paste and blackberry reduction flavors. The long finish rumbles through, with buried brambly grip providing the support for the dense fruit and toast to meld. Best from 2025 through 2040. 29,833 cases made.In Bond£427.00 -
James Suckling (94-95)
Very attractive core of pretty fruit and polished yet chewy tannins. Medium to full body, integrated tannins and a driven finish. One of the best Talbots in a long time.In Bond£260.00 -
James Suckling (94-95)
A juicy, fruity wine with lots of blue fruit, blackberries and dark chocolate. Pretty depth and structure to this. Polished and structured at the same time.In Bond£250.00 -
Decanter (95)
This is a great Talbot, a real success for the château. Subtle and deft touches throughout, from the smoked turmeric notes that lace the black fruits to the finessed aromatics that accompany the body of the wine. Balance and freshness, and a saline edge to the finish that is extremely moreish. Three years with Jean-Michel Laporte as director and he is doing great work.In Bond£377.00 -
The Drinks Business (92-94)
Talbot (St Julien; 71% Cabernet Sauvignon; 24% Merlot; 5% Petit Verdot; 12% alcohol; a final yield of 44 hl/ha; tasted at the UGCB press tasting and at Lagrange with very similar notes). This, too, is very impressive and continues a steep upward trajectory since around 2018. On the nose, one is struck first by the ripeness and the associated natural sweetness of the fruit; I find walnuts and a dark stone and berry fruit – mulberries and sloes and damsons – and then, with air, all the cedar that defines this as Talbot. On the palate, this cool summer edition of Talbot comes across as quite serious even slightly austere, with a lovely tight, compact, dense core that stays closely strapped to the notable spine. In the context of the vintage, this is a great wine and clearly the product of a very strict selection. It has a beautiful texture, structure and mouthfeel. I particularly like the sinuous and luminous mid-palate. Tasted blind, I might well have mistaken this for Gruaud Larose (something that would not have been possible even a few vintages ago). Tasted a second time, I find it closest in style to Gruaud Larose; both properties continue their parallel upward trajectories in this vintageIn Bond£399.00 -
James Suckling (94-95)
A medium- to full-bodied red with very fine tannins. It’s firm and structured, showing a bright, dark-fruited character. Focused, with a good center-palate and a lingering finish. Really polished.In Bond£231.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (90)
The 2020 Caillou de Talbot Blanc, bottled a month prior to my visit, has a pretty lime and grapefruit scented nose. Hints of white tea emerge with time. The palate is well balanced with almond and caramelized pear notes, a touch of stem ginger emerging with time. Quite spicy, somehow, I can imagine this partnering Asian food with style thank to a scintilla of Muscat lingering on the aftertaste.In Bond£283.00