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CHÂTEAU TALBOT

2012 4ème Cru Classé Saint Julien

Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Haut Médoc
Village Saint Julien
Classification 4ème Cru Classé
ABV 14%

I tasted this well - really very well. It stood out amongst its peers with a glossy dark colour, ripe fruit nose and supple, succulent palate. Very much in the Talbot idiom, a Cabernet flavour which is strong on blackcurrant, a touch of sweetness rare in the vintage, and a really rather gorgeous fleshy feel, and good juice-filled length too. Top Talbot. Rating: 92 L&S (Apr 2013)


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The 2012 Talbot has a well-defined bouquet with slightly ferrous red fruit, touches of truffle and undergrowth. The palate is medium-bodied, lighter than its peers but well defined and framed by fine tannins. There is a pleasant piquant touch on the finish. Drink now and over the next five to eight years. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. Drinking range: 2022 - 2034 Rating: 89 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Sept 2022)

59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Gently aromatic in a classic rather than explosive sort of way. Juicy and fresh on the palate but without huge depth and drive. A bit like the 2008 but with more precision and a little more fruit. (JL) 13% Drinking range: 2019 - 2027 Rating: 16 James Lawther MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2022)

The 2012 is a supple, inviting wine. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke and licorice appear first, followed by scents of graphite, smoke, violet and sage that add nuance. This expressive, open-knit Saint-Julien has a lot to offer. Above all else, the Talbot is incredibly sensual and inviting. It will be hard to resist young, but also has enough depth to drink well for two decades, perhaps longer. Drinking range: 2018 - 2032 Rating: 92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jan 2016)

Château Talbot

St Julien Quatrième cru 1855

John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury was sent by King Henry VI to re-impose some English rule on this troublesome part of his Kingdom, but ended up being killed at the Battle of Castillon in 1453. Quite what connection he had with this particular bit of St Julien is unknown but, at least as far back as the 17th Century, the large estate in the centre of the appellation has been known as Château Talbot and it has generally been held that it was named for said John Talbot.

Désiré Cordier bought Talbot in 1917 and it is still in the hands of the Cordier family.

Sitting right in the middle of St Julien, surrounded by the great names of the appellation, and at 107ha of vineyard, Château Talbot is hard to miss. The vineyards are planted to 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Fermentation takes place in a combination of traditional wooden vats and modern stainless steel, with the Grand Vin spending 14 months in oak (50%-60% new).

There is a second wine named in honour of John Talbot, who's local title was Connétable Talbot.

With such big production and with an easy name to read and remember in the English-speaking market, Château Talbot has a healthy following and reliable reputation. It is a reputation that Talbot, by and large, lives up to with well-flavoured structured wines.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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