Chateau Talbot 2019

Well-built and rather refined for the vintage, with a deep core of red and black currant paste and plum reduction flavors supported by a deeply inlaid iron note, all of which run the length of the wine. Offers subtle savory, tobacco and singed cedar notes that add range, with a savory echo that leaves a mouthwatering feel in the end. Built to cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2040. 23,333 cases made, 1,167 cases imported.

The youthful and energetic 2019 Talbot, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, retains grace despite its ripeness. Still bold for a St-Julien, it shows the restraint and elegance of Talbot. Brimming with black fruit and a suave, silky texture, the savoury side has just started to peek out. With its impeccable balance, I’m sure it will develop gorgeously.

Ripe redcurrants and plums with violet and other flowers on the nose. Full-bodied with firm, polished tannins that are ripe yet firm. Pure fruit here. Pretty center-palate. Chewy finish. Give this at least five or six years to come around. Best after 2026.

The 2019 Talbot was one of the best recent vintages I tasted when a sample was sent to me last year, thanks in no small part to the appointment of Jean‑Michel Laporte. The 2019 has a large proportion (69%) of Cabernet Sauvignon, higher than previous vintages. Bottled in May 2021, it retains that delineated, focused bouquet of blackberry with touches of pencil lead, hints of raspberry and cedar. Classic Saint‑Julien. The palate is medium‑bodied with very fine tannins and a superb line of acidity. Much more cohesive and with more substance than prior vintages. There’s a touch of spiciness toward the lingering finish, which reveals notes of tobacco and gravel. Talbot made a great wine in 2019, and it will age with style. 14.1% alcohol

Medium-bodied with olive and savory notes on the palate, the wine opens with juicy, fresh, bright currants and spice. Tannic, crisp, and fresh, the vibrant palate offers a nice, chewy crunch to the fruit on the palate and in the finish, which ends with a tangy hint of sweet cranberry, spice, and herbs. Drink from 2030–2055.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Delicate reductive notes, herbal spice, dark cherries and berry fruit, hints of nougat, needs some air. Juicy, ripe red cherries, integrated, supporting tannins, fresh acidity, lively style, fruity finish, mineral and persistent, good ageing potential, but still needs time.

Purple-red with a violet rim. Intense bouquet of red plums and fragrant violets, followed by wild-berry compote and rosewood. On the elegant palate, supported by a tannic framework and a finely firm texture. In the aromatic finish, red-berry contours, delicate graphite nuances, a subtly salty extract and gentle, firm notes underneath. Everything is in its right place here, and I hope this Château will continue to produce wines in the future that recall the great 2003 or 2000. Tip: the estate’s second wine, Connétable Talbot, is well made this year—very floral, with a finely sandy extract and an elegant body.

Kunz barrel sample 2020: (69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 14.1% alc./vol., production 280,000 bottles) Spicy, delicately vegetal bouquet, blackcurrant, fennel, cherries, cedar, tobacco. Powerful, firm palate with good fruit, fine-grained tannins, well-muscled structure, medium fruit, intense aromatics, long, austere finish. Has room to improve.

(69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 14.1% alc./vol., production 280,000 bottles) Spicy, subtly vegetal bouquet, cassis, fennel, cherries, cedar, tobacco. Powerful, firm-palated wine with good fruit, fine sandy tannins, a well-muscled structure, medium fruit, intense aromatics, and a long, firm-bitter finish. Has room to improve. 17/20 2025 - 2045

Such precision and elegance, showcasing savory blue fruits and a ton of Cabernet signature. Just a hugely classic and brilliant Talbot, stretching its muscles to take its place among the great St Juliens. This is the best for me in the line-up, with clear ageing potential, liquorice and rich blueberry and blackberry fruits with waves of cinnamon, cocoa bean, clove-edged notes, and smoked coffee beans. 60% new oak for ageing. Jean-Michel Laporte, director.

The 2019 Talbot is composed of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it delivers notes of chocolate mint, crème de cassis, and blueberry pie with suggestions of forest floor and dusty soil. The medium-bodied palate is expressive and delicious right now, with a chewy texture, lively backbone, and lifted finish.

After a top-flight 2018, the 2019 is no exception: it stands out as a major success, with volume, flesh, and a very fine energy on the finish. A promising whole that will be fascinating to watch evolve.

Right from the start, the bouquet of Talbot 2019 reveals various elements, including barrel ageing. It’s unmistakable—and indeed appealing—through smoky nuances, mocha, and freshly baked bread. The freshness of Cabernet Sauvignon enhances the aromatic complexity with notes of eucalyptus and blackcurrant, followed by a touch of graphite. On the palate, the wine fully embraces its Cabernet Sauvignon focus; there is freshness, tension, and powerful tannins. Talbot’s identity is evident, underscoring its ability to shine across different vintages. A precise, compact wine with powerful, well-judged tannins that provide a fine backbone across the palate. More than ever, Talbot is true to itself, a point clearly underlined on the finish. Such intensity and persistence.

The nose is aromatic, racy, and offers power (with finesse/control), intensity, and lovely definition. It reveals notes of pulpy/juicy boysenberry, juicy/pulpy strawberry, and, more subtly, crushed blackcurrant, combined with touches of crushed cherry, violet, licorice stick, tonka bean, as well as fine hints of cubeb pepper and spices. The palate is fruity, racy, and offers juiciness, a touch of freshness, good definition, indulgence, a fine tangy backbone, lovely silky richness, depth, tension, a fine grain, and power. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of crushed blackberry, morello cherry, and, more subtly, crushed strawberry, combined with touches of crushed small black fruits, violet, licorice, chocolate, as well as fine almost-caramelized hints and toasted almond. Good length. The tannins are elegant, enveloping, and offer power. A very discreet saline touch on the finish.

Dark color of medium intensity. Aromatic nose with fresh fruit. Precise on the attack, very flavorful at mid-palate, pleasant, with a more defined structure than at times; the wine develops as juicy and even fine in its final grain, to the point that it is quite hard to spit. Good length.

94–96. Barrel Sample. A rich, spicy and smoky wine, this has generous tannins to balance the blackberry fruit flavors. The structure is already impressive, showing ripeness as well as density, which is promising for plenty of aging.