Connetable de Talbot 2022

Seductively open, fine roasted note, tobacco over cherries and raspberries; slender palate, creamy texture, delicate fruit, well-judged tannins, good length. Extremely successful.

Warmed cassis and plum compote notes give this a forward and generous feel, while singed apple wood, dried anise and violet, plus a perfumed hint on the finish, display a textbook St.-Julien profile. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2036. 15,000 cases made, 600 cases imported.

Bright strawberries and fresh cherries — this bursts on the palate with freshly picked summer berries and high, almost citric acidity that gives a buzz to the expression. This is all about the energy and lift as opposed to power and strength. A really enjoyable and drinkable wine with well-integrated tannins and gorgeous salty undercurrents. I love the cool mint aspects too. In a blind tasting this wouldn't be an obvious pick from 2022.

The 2022 Connetable de Talbot has a well-defined nose, surprisingly “cool” and classical in style, with a light algae-like element that emerges with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, modest depth, cohering nicely towards the finish. This is a 2022 with a bit more character, and it has better substance than it showed a year ago. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Cigar wrappers, herbs, flowers, and spicy red fruits show on the nose. The medium-bodied palate is fresh, forward, and fruity, with lift and energy in the red currants and spice on the finish. The wine blends 56% Cabernet Sauvignon with 44% Merlot. Drink from 2025–2032.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, broad ochre rim. Delicate blueberry nuances, black cherry fruit, some nougat, fine herbal savouriness. Juicy, pleasant fruit expression, subtle structure, ripe tannins, red berry nuances on the finish, chocolatey finale, already accessible.

Unfussy, well balanced, soft tannins, brambled berry fruits, rosemary spice, no need to wait too long, less appellation typicity than in the main estate wine, but this is a lovely Left Bank wine.

A lovely, distinctive nose of aromatic herbs and spices. The same indulgent character returns on the palate, with notes reminiscent of herb-laced pot-au-feu and a meaty nuance.

Fruity and nicely intense, the bouquet of Connétable Talbot shows depth and precision. The latter is also highlighted on the palate and serves as a guiding thread. The tannins, creamy and velvety, provide excellent structure and ensure both firmness and freshness. A sapid wine that can already be enjoyed young.

The nose is spicy and benefits from decanting, as it needs time to open up. It reveals notes of camphor and smoke and, more subtly, blackberry, alongside hints of fleshy wild strawberry and fine touches of clove. The palate is beautifully crafted—supple, fresh and mineral—with juicy fruit, a tangy, sapid backbone, freshness, a discreetly firm structure and a refined iodised edge. It shows notes of fleshy blackcurrant, small dense/juicy berries and, more lightly, violet, combined with mineral touches, camphor, graphene and a hint of coffee on the finish. There is also a subtle almost-eucalyptus note and a touch of dark chocolate in the background. The tannins are fresh.

The second wine from Talbot, this is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon and 44% Merlot. An attractive nose of lightly smoked fruits here, with a touch of desiccation to the fruit, and a trace of minty blackcurrant. The palate is light and juicy, with an upper layer of supple blackcurrant with a powdery core of tannins hiding underneath. It finishes with a short and sappy flourish of tannin. An easy-going second wine which will need a couple of years to soak up those tannins, after which this will drink nicely. The alcohol on the label is 13%.

Tasted blind. Looks quite evolved. Spicy sweet and enough fruit for the tannin. (JR)