The product image is for illustrative purposes only and may not exactly reflect the actual characteristics of the wine.
The wine
- Colour
- Rosso
- Alcohol
- 12.5% vol
Critics' scores
- Robert Parker / Wine Advocate 91+
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Talbot features notions of baked blackcurrants, stewed plums and bouquet garni with hints of tilled soil, tobacco leaf and pencil lead. The medium-bodied palate is softly textured with bags of juicy black fruits supported by chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing savory.
- Wine Spectator 95
This is densely packed with ripe macerated fig, blackberry and plum fruit flavors supported by tar and bramble notes that meld steadily through the finish. Notes of applewood and anise flash throughout. For the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2036. 21,665 cases made. — JM
- James Suckling 96
Rich aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, chocolate, tobacco and licorice. Oyster shell, too. It’s full-bodied with firm, well integrated tannins. Polished, silky layers with a long finish. Gorgeous ripe and bright fruit in the center palate. Best in a long time. Try from 2025.
- René Gabriel 18
Kunz Fassprobe 19: Tiefes, herbes, verschlossenes Bouquet, schwarze Beeren, Edelhölzer, Mocca. Dichter, muskulöser, aromatischer Gaumen mit kräftiger Frucht, viel gutem Tannin, fein kerniger Struktur, dunkler Aromatik, langer, dichter Abgang.
- Vinous 93
The 2018 Talbot is quite the powerhouse. Inky and deep, the 2018 possesses striking textural richness from start to finish. Inky dark fruit, licorice, cloves, new leather, menthol, violet and chocolate fill out the layers effortlessly in this decidedly flashy Saint-Julien. This is a terrific effort for Technical Director Jean-Michel Laporte in his first vintage at Talbot. It will be interesting to see where the château goes in future years. This is certainly an opulent, rich style.
The producer: Château Talbot
This outstanding Left Bank estate owes its name to Connétable Talbot, the English general and governor of the province of Guyenne who was defeated at the famous Battle of Castillon in 1453. His downfall ended over 340 years of British control in the Bordeaux region. Today, Château Talbot owns 107-hectares of vineyards cultivated in the heart of the Saint-Julien commune. Initially a Cordier négociant group, Talbot has been maintained by the family members to this date, with Nancy Bignon Cordier and her husband Jean-Paul Bignon currently safeguarding Talbot’s deep-seated high-quality standards. With some of the finest terroir in Médoc, the château receives valuable guidance from the skilled enologist Jacques Boissenot and consulting vintner, Stéphane Derenoncourt. The resulting wines are praised internationally for their open character and well-rounded tannins, which makes the wines both approachable and age-worthy. In the spirit of tradition with a modern twist, the second wine Connétable de Talbot is rich with notes of cedar wood and vanilla like its older sibling, the layered Grand Vin, Talbot.