CHÂTEAU TALBOT
2017 4ème Cru Classé Saint Julien
| Colour | Red |
| Origin | France, Bordeaux |
| Sub-district | Haut Médoc |
| Village | Saint Julien |
| Classification | 4ème Cru Classé |
| ABV | 13.5% |
Jean-Michel Laporte (formerly of Conseillante) has now taken the reins here but he did not have input into this vintage. He has no plans to revolutionise things, just to make small, gradual changes like slowly increasing the plantings of Cabernet over the course of the next 80 years... The 2017 showed a nicely open nose of fresh black fruit and some savoury elements like cedarwood, earth and tapenade. It has a fine medium-bodied frame and lots of juicy refreshment. The tannins are slightly chalky but overall this is a very well presented Saint Julien. Rating: 90-91 L&S (May 2018)
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*Case price discount: Mix any 12 bottles (or 9l equivalent) of wine or 6 bottles of Champagne, Spirits, Sweet Wine or Fortified to get the 'case price' for each bottle.
68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. Fresh and fragrant but only just beginning to open. Accent on the fruit with both red- and dark-fruit notes. Light but fine tannic frame. Attractive in a clean, precise, elegant way. Ripe but lacks the substance of a great year so more for medium-term ageing. A touch short on the finish. (JL) 13.5% Drinking range: 2024 - 2035 Rating: 16+ James Lawther MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2022)
The 2017 Talbot was picked from 18 to 4 October using manual and optical sorting, matured in 50% new oak. It has a relatively light but well-defined, floral bouquet, pressed flower filtering through that blackberry and boysenberry scents, a little clove and bay leaf lending complexity as it opens in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannin that frame the slightly savory black fruit, just a little earthiness developing towards the finish. It is a classic Talbot really, exactly what you would expect for the vintage. Drinking range: 2020 - 2036 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2018)
Jean-Michel Laporte (ex Conseillante) has been director at Talbot since spring 2018. Deep crimson. Fragrant with both berry and leaf of cassis. Chalky texture but still fresh and just enough fruit to give a lively finish. Could do with a little more flesh in the middle but it is nicely scented. Drinking range: 2023 - 2029 Rating: 16 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2018)
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.
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