Talbot 2018

Tasted blind. Blackish crimson. Lifted, exciting nose. Dense and dramatic. Lots of pace here with fruit and tannin nicely balanced for a long drinking window. Neat and long even if relatively restrained. 14.5%Drink 2026 – 2046

66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot; 60% new oak. Now made by Jean-Michel Laporte. Barrel sample. Deepest black-cherry colour. Sweet cassis and blueberry fruit. Smooth and juicy on the palate, much more apparently approachable than many but there’s a deep core of ripe tannin hiding behind the juicy fruit. Thickly textured on the finish yet promising. (JH) 14%Drink 2026-2036

This estate is on a roll and the 2018 Château Talbot might just be the best yet. A deep purple/blue color is followed by a mammoth-sized bouquet of crème de cassis, dark chocolate, tobacco, and lead pencil. Rich, full-bodied, and powerful, it nevertheless stays pure, balanced, and elegant, with a beautiful finish. Its tannins are ripe and integrated, it has balancing acidity, and this is unquestionably another beautiful vintage for this estate.

(66 Cabernet Sauvignon, 29 Merlot, 5 Petit Verdot) | 60% new oak | 14% alc The black cherry theme here is very attractive and the richness and silkiness on the palate certainly signals a successful wine. Smooth and round, the acid and tannin are both neatly tucked under the fruit and the result is a balanced Talbot which will soften and relax in no time at all. I like this vintage a lot at Talbot as it has harnessed a little more ripeness than usual and this serves to bolster their style.

The 2018 Talbot is Jean-Marc Laporte’s first vintage in charge, although he mentioned that he has not changed a great deal. It has an intense bouquet with blackberry, blueberry and violets aromas with much more vivacity than recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins and clearly more mid-palate. There is just more body and presence to this Talbot compared to previous vintages, more tension and grip on the graphite tinged finish. This is very promising not only for this vintage, but for the future of Talbot. Watch this space/château. 2023 - 2045

Very attractive core of pretty fruit and polished yet chewy tannins. Medium to full body, integrated tannins and a driven finish. One of the best Talbots in a long time.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Talbot is just a little reduced to begin, opening out to reveal notions of warm red and black currants, baked plums and mulberries with touches of sautéed herbs, tilled soil, fallen leaves and unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, it has commendably ripe, fine-grained tannins and restrained, earthy layers on offer in the mouth with an herbal lift on the finish.