Château Talbot - Saint-Julien 1996 b5952cb1c3ab96cb3c8c63cfb3dccaca

Wine Advocate

89 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/1999

I tasted this wine three times in January, rating it 88, 89, and 90 with similar tasting notes. The wine is close to being outstanding, exhibiting a saturated dark ruby color, and excellent aromatics, consisting of black fruits intermixed with licorice, dried herbs, and roasted meat smells. It is full, with impressive extract, a fleshy texture, low acidity, excellent purity, and a long, deep, chewy finish. This 1996 will be drinkable at a young age, yet keep for 15-20 years. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2017.

Wine Spectator

90 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/31/1999

Pretty aromas of berries and wet earth. Full-bodied, with firm tannins and a long aftertaste of mineral and spice. Closed and firm at the moment; needs time to open. Best after 2003.

Wine Advocate

87-89 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1998

The 1996 Talbot is an excellent effort from this large St.-Julien estate. Black/ruby/purple-colored, with a pronounced nose of Provencal olives, black currants, licorice, and Asian spices, this is a powerful, dense, richly fruity wine with fine intensity, moderate tannin, and medium body. This attractive St.-Julien will be one of a handful of 1996s that can be drunk a few years after bottling. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2015.

Wine Advocate

87-89 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/1997

An excellent effort from this large St.-Julien estate, Talbot's 1996 reveals a deep, saturated dark ruby/purple color, followed by a sweet, expressive nose of smoke, herbs, and jammy black fruits (overripe cherries and blackcurrants galore). Dominated by its Cabernet Sauvignon component, this medium-bodied, moderately tannic wine should develop more quickly than many of the backstrapping Medocs of this vintage. It possesses decent acidity, intensely sweet fruit, and fine purity and delineation. I do not see it evolving into an outstanding (90 points) wine, but it is not far off the mark. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2017.