Château Talbot 2023

77% Cabernet, the highest proportion ever in Talbot; deep, expressive, black-fruited, licorice, blond tobacco, very complex; on the palate densely built, marked tannins, chiseled from stone, plenty of breed, magnificent length, dark chocolate on the finish. A textbook Talbot, capable of aging.

As with many Médoc wines this vintage, Château Talbot shows off the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in its blend in recent memory, reflected in cool cassis and blueberry fruit, liquorice and cigar box aromas, leading to some plum and blackberry mid-palate richness. Indeed, the palate evinces much depth, juiciness and salinity: all very good signs that bode well for future complexity after barrel ageing (60% new oak) and five to ten years of cellaring. But we are not in 2019 or 2020, as the finish does show some tannic austerity. All things considered, a very successful Talbot, with potential for a higher score in bottle.

The 2023 Talbot has a typical nose for the estate, with open-knit red berry fruit, wild hedgerow and fleeting blackcurrant aromas, iris flower emerging with time in the glass. Not powerful, but it conveys a sense of refinement. The palate is medium-bodied, with a succulent entry, pliant tannins, fresh and elegant in style. This is what Talbot does so well, almost a "less is more" Saint-Julien that lingers in the mouth and tempts you back for more. Guaranteed you will finish a bottle.

Flowers, licorice, blackberries, black cherries, and a hint of chocolate drive the perfume. The medium-bodied, creamy palate packs in all the ripe, sweet fruits, peppery spices, and chalky minerality you could ask for. Drink from 2029-2050.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, delicate brightening on the rim. Fine herbal savouriness, black forest berries, dark cherries, delicately smoky, nougat underneath. Complex, juicy, elegant, ripe tannins, dark cherries on the finish, lingers long, a finely spicy food wine.

Inky, deep, blueberry, plum, black pepper spice, cocoa bean, clear character. Great stuff. 60% new oak for ageing, and a generous 54hl/ha yield.

Score: 94–96. Tender and calm like a seascape, discreet, the bouquet offers a whole range of floral, vegetal and graphite notes, with a sappy freshness. Crushed raspberries, ripe blackberry and cherry, as well as peppery notes, add up to a wonderfully generous nose. On the palate, it’s a controlled burst of fruit—ripe, quivering, melodious—with lovely freshness, polished tannins, and a satiny texture.

The nose is fruity, precise, racy, beautifully fresh, offering complexity, finesse, cool-toned darkness, depth, and a subtle multi-layered side. It reveals notes of blackberry and spices, and more lightly of pulpy raspberry, together with touches of fresh, fairly ripe red berries (Mediterranean edge), as well as discreet hints of Penjab pepper, spices, lily, and cocoa. The palate is beautifully juicy and fruity, delivering freshness, minerality, a vibrant backbone, and a well-defined sense of accuracy. It shows notes of juicy/pulpy blackberry and violet, and more lightly of bright fresh wild raspberry, joined by touches of cornflower, roasted-juicy wild red berries, along with hints of racy/saline minerality and a subtle hint of fresh flowers, mocha, camphor, and graphite. The tannins are sapid and velvety. Lovely dark tonality and harmony, a touch of plushness and a very discreet grain on the finish/persistence. A subtle hint of graphite on the nose. An elongated feel on nose and palate, with cocoa-tinged bitterness.

Generous and stylish, with a mouthwatering apple wood thread that curls in and around a core of gently mulled boysenberry, blueberry and blackberry compote flavors. Flashes of dried anise and cast iron flitter through, and the finish is long and grippy. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2027 through 2040. 30,000 cases made, 1,700 cases imported.

A historic record for Cabernet Sauvignon in Talbot, which has never included so much of this grape variety in the blend. The wine shows serenity and precision. It unfolds gradually, opening with hints of reduction and graphite that merely set the stage for notes of black and red berries, liquorice, and freshness through nuances of eucalyptus, then finally a touch of coffee and a hint of tea leaves! Dense on the attack, the wine is driven by a harmonious texture. The tannins are well coated and deliver an appreciable power, while the acidity provides freshness and backbone. A wine that still struggles a little to fully express itself and to deliver on its ambitions and potential, but it clearly has everything it needs to get there. It just needs a little time—and that’s perfectly fine! A complete, inviting and persistent wine.

Dark, intense purple color. Moderately intense nose, fruity and with vanilla notes. Smooth, fruity palate with a supple texture. This wine lacks lift on the mid-palate and on the finish. Tasted twice with the same impression.