Château Talbot 2009

Subtly spicy, with fresh, racy tannins and a lively berry finish: a real pleasure.

Dark plum and blueberry compote notes lead the way, followed by dark cocoa and tobacco. A fleshy feel runs throughout, with a stony edge adding length and balance on the finish. Best from 2013 through 2021.

Initially generous, the wine then becomes much more solid and dense. The structure is all there along with the ripest fruit. It is delicious and darkly tannic at the same time.

A hint of brick colour at the edge belies the youthfulness of the gorgeous 2009 Talbot. Succulent black fruit sits on a firm but suave base. Savoury mature nuances peak out, but this beauty has miles to go before it sleeps (apologies to Robert Frost). This poised delight shows the charm of St-Julien.

Aromas of cocoa powder and currants, follow through to a full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy, berry and chocolate aftertaste. Lovely polish to this. Try in 2018.

Tasted blind. Smudgy crimson. Fairly low-key, mature nose. Lovely round, flattering fruit. Very 2009 and much more mature than any St-Estèphe 2009 just tasted. A little bit of heat and alcohol on the end. (JR)

With a spicy, floral leaning to the fresh red fruits, you also find soft, polished, round textures, a medium-body and a finish serving up sweet, dark cherries, thyme and espresso. You can drink this young, or age it for more nuances and complexities.

Dark ruby garnet colour with purple reflections, delicate brightening on the rim. Dark berries, light precious wood savouriness, nuances of cassis, fresh mandarin zest, a fine floral touch. Juicy, red cherries, round tannins, good freshness, pleasant fruit sweetness, already developed, balanced and versatile.

Multi layered nose with coffee, spices, tobacco, dark berries and fine oak, the palate is intense, concentrated and muscular with layers of dark berries, blackcurrant, fine tannin and a perfect balance, very long and clean finish, highly potent wine.

Deep purple-garnet color. Slim, aromatic, floral bouquet with notes of cedar, tobacco, currants, and smoke. Easy-drinking palate, lean frame with fine tannins, subtly muscular astringency, blueberry-tinged finish. A very good Talbot, but ultimately lacking intensity and tension.

Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core with a violet hue at the rim. A slender bouquet, yet packed with aromatics: cedar, tobacco, currants, smoke, along with delicate floral notes. Juicy, streamlined palate with fine tannins, showing a subtly muscular astringency and a blueberry-driven finish. A fairly substantial Talbot, though ultimately lacking drive and tension.

Medium-bodied, sweet, spicy bouquet with black berries, vanilla, tobacco and leather. Medium-bodied, aromatic, fresh palate with sweet fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a dense structure and a powerful, spicy aromatic profile. Long, full finish. 18/20 2018 - 2035

Melted tannins, juicy black fruits, a refined appellation signature: this opens onto grilled blackberry and bilberry, brambly and pureed, with slate-like tannins and a wave of campfire smoke. There’s well-balanced acidity too—this is charming, joyful and ready to drink, yet with plenty of life ahead. One to look out for.

The sample tasted did not show a body or definition as precise as its peers, in a vintage that was nonetheless rich and sunny. There will be other opportunities to taste it again.

With this vintage, the estate is back on form. It has the opulence and silky texture that made it such a success. The fruit is luscious, the finish is precise, and the tannins are well integrated.

A full attack with a lovely softness, a rather firm mid-palate, and a finish marked by red fruits. Lovely flesh, beautiful substance. The greatest since 1945.

Garnet red color. A nicely intense bouquet revealing notes of chocolate and prunes. The attack is juicy and compact. On the palate, the wine shows good breadth and is well supported by a structure that brings welcome freshness in the context of the vintage. The tannins are slightly grainy, well integrated and in harmony with the structure, ideally carrying the fruit through to the finish. A fruity, elegant finish.

The nose is fruity and indulgent, with plenty of power. It reveals notes of wild strawberry, small wild berries, blackcurrant and blueberry, alongside hints of gravelly minerality (terroir), liquorice, sweet spices and vanilla, plus a subtle touch of Cubeb pepper, chocolate truffle, coffee/toasty notes and toasted almond. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and refined, offering lovely delicacy, a fine structure, a beautifully textured grain, precision, attractive richness and a subtle, straight-lined feel. On the palate, the wine expresses notes of blackcurrant, crushed blackberry and crushed wild strawberry, with delicate touches of black cherry and crushed raspberry, combined with hints of caramelised oak, liquorice and subtle notes of chocolate. The tannins are well handled—fine, elegant and supple. Good length and a lingering finish. A sunny, racy wine.

Logo on the cork: inverted T (Trescases) Dark color, of normal intensity and slightly evolved. Moderately aromatic nose with ripe fruit. Caressing on the attack, juicy on the mid-palate and very flavorful, the wine develops very pleasantly over fine tannins, with a hint of ink and cream on the finish. Average length.

Extremely sexy, soft, supple and opulent, with notes of cedar, herbs, incense and black currant fruit, this is a full-bodied, generously endowed but silky Talbot to drink now and over the next 20+ years. By any standard of measurement, this is irresistible.