Château Talbot 2014

This has melded together nicely already, with a core of gently steeped plum, blackberry and anise flavors intertwined with light licorice snap and roasted apple wood notes. Focused and solid, but with a charming supple edge. Best from 2020 through 2030. 26,283 cases made.

Here the lovely cedar nose draws you in and leads to an elegant combination of dark fruit and mature, leather-like nuances. The tannins are not as fine as more recent vintages but allow support without being intrusive. Alluring maturity comes out at this decade-old beauty.

The smoky oak, full body and chunky tannins make a bold statement; indeed, the wine has plenty of flesh and packs a big tannic punch on the finish. Best Talbot in years. Drink in 2023.

The 2014 Talbot is soft, silky and wonderfully nuanced on the palate. Much more refined from bottle than it was from barrel, the 2014 has moved toward greater finesse over the last two years. This is a lovely effort. Lifted rose petal and lavender notes add closing nuance. The blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. Tasted two times.

Medium-bodied, with a touch of strictness in the tannins that leaves a hint of dryness on the finish, which detracts slightly from the otherwise complex aromatics and tasty, spicy, earthy fruit.

Cut from the same cloth as the 2015, just more classic in style, the 2014 Château Talbot offers lots of black fruits, smoked herbs, graphite and a touch of lead pencil on the nose. This is followed by a classically styled, medium-bodied, dense, impressively concentrated 2014 that has another 10-15 years of prime drinking. This is always a well-made, classic Saint-Julien and readers can’t go wrong here.

Dark garnet, fairly dense at the core, ruby rim. Sweet red plum compote mixed with cassis and a generous hint of caramel. On the palate, light malt, again plum and well-supporting tannins; the finish is impressively spicy. A rather grand Talbot with swagger; it should gain another point at drinking maturity. Tasted twice.

Dark garnet, fairly dense at the core, ruby rim. Sweet red plum compote mixed with cassis and a generous hint of caramel. On the palate, light malt, plum again and well-supporting tannins; the finish is impressively spicy. A rather grand Talbot with swagger, likely to pick up another point at peak drinkability. Tasted twice.

Deep, classic, austere bouquet with fine woods, tobacco, blue and black berries. Powerful, well-dry palate with finely sandy tannins, moderate fruit, muscular structure, pronounced aromatics, long, spicy finish. 17/20 2022 - 2038

The 2014 Talbot is medium to deep garnet in color. Scents of blackcurrant jelly, Morello cherries, and licorice spring from the glass, followed by wafts of cumin seed, dried sage, and crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate is firm and a tad skinny, with the rugged tannins dominating the finish. Tasted blind with the Southwold Group in London in February 2024.

It lives up to its promises, with a remarkable body and a noble, dense expression of the terroir.

A Talbot of great expression that confirms our impressions, with brightness and definition in the substance that make it a success and a great value. Very fine density.

62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. Lovely, complex nose with beautiful cedar aromas. A well-balanced wine with harmonious tannins, a very fine mid-palate, and a complex finish. Very elegant.

Garnet red with subtle violet highlights. An intense, complex bouquet revealing notes of black berries such as blackberry and blackcurrant. I also detect spices with a touch of black pepper. Juicy, compact, fruity attack. On the palate, the body shows lovely richness with some roundness, an appealing aromatic character, lively structure, and perfectly integrated tannins. This 2014 has the ambition and character to rival 2010. Respect and congratulations, as exceptional work was accomplished given the context of this vintage. The structure provides perfect backbone and supports the aromatics, while the tannins supply the substance for a few decades. Let us recall that the Left Bank lagged in 2014 (it has to switch sides from time to time), and this fine success from Talbot confirms it brilliantly.

Intense, beautiful color. Ripe-style fruity nose. Smooth, flavorful palate, particularly fruit-forward, developing a sappy character with flavor, body, real structure, and fine tannins. It’s good!

This generous wine is on the fruity side of the 2014 spectrum. Blueberry and black-currant fruits are supported by the spice and tannins from wood aging. The wine is likely to develop easily over the medium term. Drink from 2020.