Chateau Talbot 2021

Decanter: "Spearmint and blackcurrants on the nose with some gorgeous perfume too. Excellent intensity of blackcurrant juice, not fleshy, more linear and direct, the lightness of flavour balancing with fine, just gripping tannins that also offer touches of tobacco and toasted spice flavours. It's overall quite a delicate and well worked wine for the vintage, with gentle fruit persistence and a lifted finish. Will no doubt round out over ageing, giving more density to the really beautifully presented floral-touched bramble fruit. Elegance and class; promising indeed."

Suckling: "A fruity and attractive 2021 with currant and berry aromas and flavors. Hints of citrus. Medium body. Fresh finish."

Weinwisser: "71 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 24 % Merlot, 5 % Petit Verdot. Verhaltener Beginn, Brasiltabak, zarte rotbeerige Konturen und frischgemahlener schwarzer Pfeffer. Am vielschichtigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, straffem engmaschigem Tanningerüst, perfekt stützender Rasse und muskulösem Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale Preiselbeere, dunkle Mineralik und fein sandige Adstringenz. Chapeau, Jean-Michel Laporte!"

Wine Advocate: "The 2021 Talbot is promising, exhibiting aromas of wild berries, cherries, cigar wrapper and sweet spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety palate that's bright and seamless, with an enveloping, charming profile despite analytically rather high levels of polyphenols. This is a fine effort that reminds Jean-Michel Laporte of the 2001 vintage in style—though the 2021 will benefit from all the improvements that the last two decades have witnessed at this address."

Galloni: "The 2021 Talbot is impeccable. Soft and inviting, the 2021 is absolutely charming. Red-fleshed fruit, blood orange, mint and spice are front and center. Although pretty easygoing in style, the 2021 is beautifully balanced and is not penalized by some of the rougher edges that have been an issue in the past. If the 2021 is an indication of where the estate is heading, that direction appears to be quite positive."

Dunnuck: "The 2021 Château Talbot is another solid Saint-Julien, an appellation that excelled in the vintage. Giving up lots of red and black fruits, leather, dried flowers, and some loamy earth notes, it's medium-bodied, has good mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It should be an outstanding wine."

Falstaff: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart tabakig, feiner animalischer Touch, ein Hauch von Trüffel, schwarze Waldbeeren, würziges Bukett. Mittlerer Körper, rote Kirschen, feine Tannine, frisch, gut anhaftend, ein vielseitiger Speisenbegleiter."

Neal Martin: "The 2021 Talbot, the Saint-Julien stalwart now under the aegis of Jean-Michel Laporte for several years, was picked from September 27 to October 11 at 44hL/ha and matured in 60% new oak, the alcohol registering 12.8%. It has a clean, focused and correct bouquet, hints of blood orange and graphite surfacing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple entry. This feels cohesive and smooth, delivering moderate depth and a touch of licorice toward the finish. I would have just liked a little more on the aftertaste. (12.8% alcohol)"