Connétable Talbot 2023

Dark fruit, stony undertones, cherries; juicy on the palate, with silkiness and precision, incredibly balanced, with fine-grained tannins, very good length, saline finish. It makes you crave the Grand Vin.

While I like the nose of camphor, cherry, cassis and plum, the palate comes across a bit astringent, and I get the sense of lesser Merlots included in the second wine. Let's see how it performs from bottle, but being conservative now.

The 2023 Connetable Talbot has a clean and fragrant nose with redcurrant and cranberry fruit. Simple but effective. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. Nicely balanced with just the right amount of structure, leading to a peppery finish, this Deuxième Vin should drink well for up to seven or eight years.

Blackberry and bilberry fruits, a touch of cold ash and campfire, with a good Saint-Julien character and an accessible style.

Highly authentic, the bouquet of Connétable Talbot reveals notes of black berries, graphite and eucalyptus, complemented by inviting hints of liquorice. The creamy attack gives way to a linear wine driven by precise, fine-grained tannins that provide power and consistency. The acidic structure works in the background, ensuring a vibrant, refreshing feel all the way through to the finish. A structured wine, underpinned and strengthened by a solid backbone. A fine success.

A focused red, with generosity to its fleshy-edged plum and boysenberry fruit. Violet and ink gild this version through the finish, which is supported by a graphite edge. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2036. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 18,000 cases made, 700 cases imported.