Castle Talbot - Saint-Julien 2009

Wine Advocate

88 / 100

byNeal Martinthe1/1/2013

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Talbot '09 displays a touch of gaminess on the nose of this wine that is well defined: blackberry, graphite and undergrowth. It is feral at first but calms down in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a delicate, understated graphite entry. I would have liked more weight, more density in the context of the growing season, although it retains fine length. Tasted January 2013.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

91 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe7/31/2012

Bright ruby-red. Slightly rustic aromas of musky black raspberry, black cherry, dark chocolate, leather and game. Sweet, glossy and pliant, with lovely intensity and lift to the flavors of dark cherry, cherry pit and spices. Hints at the horsey quality typical of this chateau but boasts terrific enveloping fruit and noteworthy sweetness. Finishes with broad, plush tannins and excellent length. One of the top few Talbot vintages of the last 25 years.

Wine Spectator

91 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2012

Dark plum and blueberry compote notes lead the way, followed by dark cocoa and tobacco. A fleshy feel runs throughout, with a stony edge adding length and balance on the finish. Best from 2013 through 2021. –JM

Wine Advocate

91 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/29/2012

Extremely sexy, soft, supple and opulent, with notes of cedar, herbs, incense and black currant fruit, this is a full-bodied, generously endowed but silky Talbot to drink now and over the next 20+ years. By any standard of measurement, this is irresistible.

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2012

Aromas of cocoa powder and currants, follow through to a full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy, berry and chocolate aftertaste. Lovely polish to this. Try in 2018

Le Figaro

93-95 / 100

byBernard Burtschythe6/30/2010

Robe sombre. Nez fruits rouges, puis épices. En bouche, l’attaque est pleine avec un joli moelleux, le milieu de bouche est assez ferme, splendide finale sur les fruits rouges. Le plus grand talbot depuis 1945. 65 % cabernet-sauvignon, 30 % merlot, 5 % petit-verdot.

timatkin.com

94 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe6/30/2010

13.3% alcohol. 65 CS, 30M, 5PV Further evidence of the quality of the 2009 vintage in St Julien, this is an exceptionally aromatic Talbot, with good structure, smoky oak, currant-like fruit, a hint of fresh tobacco and perfumed, cedar wood oak. Poised and elegant on the palate, with harmonious balance and a fresh, refined finish. Another wine for drinkers, rather than speculators. 15+ years.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

88-91 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2010

Ruby red with inky highlights. Floral and perfumed on the nose, displaying delicate red berry and red cherry aromas. Then muscular and a little monolithic on the palate, with flavors of red cherry, bell pepper and cedar that are currently a bit camouflaged by sweet oak. Finishes youthfully tight but pure and long, with plenty of tongue-dusting tannins and pretty black pepper and mineral elements.

La Revue du Vin de France

17-18 / 20

the5/31/2010

Le consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt intervient à la propriété depuis le millésime 2009. Le château a légèrement modifié son approche, cherchant à gagner en définition et en profondeur. Le 2009 affiche un gras et une densité que l'on n'avait pas vus ici depuis longtemps. Le vin est très suave, fondu, mais aussi doté de tanins amples et mûrs. Un vrai Talbot gourmand. Il ira loin.

Le Point

16 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/6/2010

Fruits noirs, épices, rond, tendre, souple, long, joli fruit, épicé, bonne matière, séveux en finale, assez tendu, puissant mais plus aimable qu'autrefois. O=2015 G=25 ans

Falstaff

90-92 / 100

byPeter Moserthe4/30/2010

Zart blättrig unterlegte Zwetschkenfrucht, wirkt etwas verhalten, süße Waldbeeraromen. Kräftiger Körper, saftig und frisch, mit Nougat unterlegt, ausgewogen, gutes Reifepotenzial.

TAST

17 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2010

Certainement le plus élégant et surtout le plus précis dans sa définition aromatique des Talbot modernes, d’une grande droiture de constitution, harmonieux, long, racé, mais lui aussi un peu en dessous des grands Seconds.

Wine Advocate

90-91 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/30/2010

Tasted at the château and the UGC. A sample taken 22nd March, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon (a little higher than usual), 31% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, picked from 26th September with the Merlot, the Cabernet picked from 2nd October until 14th October. It was the first time they stopped picking to achieve full ripeness. The nose is just a little subdued at the moment, broody blackberry, raspberry, a touch of savoury fruit just in the background, perhaps from the Petit Verdot. The palate is medium-bodied, slightly rustic tannins on the entry, but nice depth on the mid-palate, fanning out nicely towards the supple finish. Notes of blackberry, tobacco, a touch of coca and a touch of pepper. A little rusticity compared to others although it displays admirable delineation. Off-dry finish. Fine, but it needs to pep up a bit by bottling. Tasted March 2010.

Wine Enthusiast

93-95 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/30/2010

A firm, complex wine, solidly based on ripe tannins, dark flavors. There is some spice and juiciness to fit with the dense tannins.

Wein Wisser

17 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2010

Sattes Purpur- Granat. Schlankes, aromatischflorales Bouquet, Zedern, Tabak, Korinthen, Rauch. Süffiger Gaumen, schlanker Körper mit feinen Tanninen, dezent muskulöse Adstringenz, blaubeeriges Finale. Ein sehr guter Talbot, dem es aber letztendlich an Druck und Spannung fehlt. 2016–2034

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/28/2010

This is the most impressive Talbot since the 1982 and 1986. It reveals an opaque plum/garnet/purple color as well as knock-out aromas of black fruits, cedar, incense, licorice, and a Provencal garrigue-like character. Substantial, sexy, and seductive, it is almost slutty in its exuberance and ostentatiousness. It was a thrill to drink this loaded St.-Julien. It should offer irresistible drinking over the next 20-25 years. (Tasted two times.) Drink 2010-2035.

Periodic Review of Wine

94-96 / 100

byAlan Duranthe4/28/2010

The opaque ruby-purple colored Talbot is the finest wine that I have tasted from this estate. Big spring flower scents are accompanied by sweet smoke, graphite, blackberry, and cassis. The pleasing aromatic profile precedes a huge flavor, a backward and potent personality, and a full-bodied, dense, remarkably concentrated palate impression. There is a striking concentration, expansiveness, gobs of extract, and a boatload of tannin. It will live for three decades, partly due to its intricate structure and old-school style. This is lengthy wine! Maturity period 2016-2041.

Anthony Rose

93-95 / 100

byAnthony Rosethe4/26/2010

Good youthful ruby colour, lovely perfumed fruit with a hint of leafy cabernet to the fore, the fruit is deliciously full of black cherry and cassis flavours and held together with a deft touch of spicy oak; overall it’s very fine-boned with elegant tannins and a voluptuously fruity fresh acidity, giving you the feeling overall of an elegant yet ageworthy style. This should be a terrific buy.

Wine Spectator

92-95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/9/2010

A red with a solid core of blueberry and currant aromas, with spices too. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a balanced finish. Very pretty.

Decanter Magazine

17 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/9/2010

Dense purple red, good earthy blackcurrant fruit, quite spicy, broad and open, very smooth texture and enough weight for the future. Drink 2014-22.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/7/2010

Some development at the rim. Light, graphite nose not without its attractions... Very sweet start but lifted and easy and utterly relaxed. Slightly dry tannins on the end. But very solid effort. Nice neat persistence. Drink 2018-2030