Talbot - Saint-Julien 2016

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

byJane Ansonthe10/20/2022

Jean-Michel Laporte (previously at La Conseillante) arrived as technical director in 2018, just as this wine was being bottled, and it's not a bad vintage to usher him in to the world of Château Talbot. I drank this at friend's house a few months ago, and it had been open 24 hours by the time we were pouring it out, which just might be the ideal time, as the tannins were soft and open, and everything felt plush and welcoming. It has the balance of the appellation, the precision that Talbot has increasingly showcased over the past few years, and a sappy feel to the tannins. 50% new oak. Stéphane Derenoncourt as consultant, with Eric Boissenot.

Vinous

92

byNeal Martinthe8/13/2020

The 2016 Talbot has an airy, well-defined bouquet of blackberry, cedar and light minty aromas, perhaps more Pauillac than Saint-Julien. The medium-bodied palate delivers gritty tannins, a fine bead of acidity and a graphite-infused finish. This is very fine for Talbot, a Saint-Julien hewn in a typically classic style. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.

Decanter.com

93

byStephen Brookthe6/1/2020

There’s a strong team in place at Talbot, with Jean-Michel Laporte (formerly of La Conseillante) as technical director and Stéphane Derenoncourt as consultant. This has a perfumed elegance on the nose, with spicy blackcurrant aromas. Suave and very concentrated, it shows ample ripe tannins and a discreet oaky structure. Its length should guarantee a good future too.

Jancis Robinson

17

byJancis Robinsonthe2/5/2020

Yvesbeck.wine

94

byYves Beckthe3/20/2019

Rouge grenat dense aux reflets violets. Talbot 2016 présente un bouquet subtil, complexe et classique où s'allient les rafraîchissantes notes du Cabernet Sauvignon, des épices et des baies noires. Sa mise en bouche est délicate, friande et fruitée. Au palais je relève également de la fraîcheur ainsi qu'une belle structure tannique qui soutient l'ensemble du vin. Cette dernière se révèle lentement en fin de bouche et assure un bien bel avenir à ce St-Julien. Il s'agit d'un Talbot de caractère, apte à allier la puissance et la délicatesse, une particularité propre aux grands vins, et c'en est un ! Il doit néanmoins encore gagner en intensité aromatique pour titiller une note plus élevée et je le vois bien à 95 ou 96/100. 2024-2046 94/100

Jeb DUNNUCK

93

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/1/2019

Brought up in 50% new oak, the 2016 Château Talbot is a winner and certainly over-delivers. Powerful notes of crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, lead pencil, and leafy herbs all give way to a silky, seamless Saint-Julien that has remarkable purity of fruit and building, fine tannins. It’s the texture as well as the purity that set this apart, and readers looking for a great value should purchase a case of this beauty.

Wine Spectator

95

byJames Molesworththe2/5/2019

Rock 'em, sock 'em St.-Julien, with mouthcoating ganache and tar notes backed by commensurate cassis, blueberry paste and blackberry reduction flavors. The long finish rumbles through, with buried brambly grip providing the support for the dense fruit and toast to meld. Best from 2025 through 2040. 29,833 cases made.  –JM

Jamessuckling.com

94

byJames Sucklingthe2/4/2019

This is already a beautiful St.-Julien that’s ripe and elegant with not a jot too much oak or tannin, but a very fresh and lively finish that keeps on going. However, there are some serious reserves in this wine that need time to be released. Already very harmonious, but better from 2021.

Vinous

92

byNeal Martinthe1/24/2019

The 2016 Talbot takes a little coaxing from the glass. The almost Margaux-like nose features pure blackberry and black cherries, and violets come through with time. You just want it to give you more. The medium-bodied palate is a little gravelly and saline, with fine tannin and a structured finish that needs more finesse and complexity. This is a fine classic Talbot, though not in the same league as the appellation's front-runners.

Vinous

94

byAntonio Gallonithe1/21/2019

The 2016 Talbot is aromatically quite expressive, but less available on the palate, where it is quite closed down. Time in the glass brings out a host of sweet tobacco, smoke, leather, cedar, mint, licorice and red-toned fruit. In two tastings, Talbot gave the impression it is going to need at least a few years to fully come into its own. Even so there is plenty to look forward to once the tannins start to melt away a bit. Consultants Stéphane Derenoncourt and Julien Lavenu have done quite a bit to raise the bar he but I get a sense more is possible. Tasted two times.

Wine Advocate

92

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe11/30/2018

The 2016 Talbot is medium garnet-purple colored and opens with pretty floral notes of roses and lavender with a core of cassis, blackberry preserves and kirsch plus wafts of cigar box and spearmint. Medium-bodied with a lovely intensity of black and red fruit flavors, it has a ripe, grainy texture and compelling freshness, finishing savory.

Decanter.com

93

byJane Ansonthe10/31/2018

WeinWisser

17

byTjark Witzgallthe5/22/2017

Purpur mit violettem Rand. Blaubeeriges Bouquet mit feinblättrigen Noten, dahinter viel tabakige Würze undLakritze. Am festen Gaumen mit mürber Textur und feinsandigem Tannin, ein burschikoser Talbot, der Zeit braucht.

Bettane & Desseauve

96

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/3/2017

Très beau style, précision du fruit et du tannin, authenticité de l’expression du terroir, un futur classique du millésime.

Wine Advocate

90-92

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2017

The 2016 Talbot has a conservative bouquet with slightly leafy black fruit, a subtle earthiness that percolates through with time. At first, the aromatics seem standoffish, but you gradually warm to its charms. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp and tensile tannin. There is an edginess to this Talbot, and it does not quite possess the harmony and charm of other Saint Julien 2016s. But, there is personality here—a bit curmudgeonly and yet you keep going back to take another sip. One to watch.

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-93

byJeff Levethe4/27/2017

Medium bodied with sweet black plums and a licorice, espresso personality, this one is already approachable with round textures and an oaky, juicy, dark fruit finish. The wine was made from a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. 

Vinous

92-95

byAntonio Gallonithe4/26/2017

The 2016 Talbot is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. Black cherry, plum, gravel, smoke, lavender and mint all flesh out in this decidedly imposing, vertical Saint-Julien. Concentrated and forbiddingly tannic at this stage, the 2016 is going to need at least a few years to start coming into its own. It should age gracefully for decades.The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. Stéphane Derenoncourt and Julien Lavenu consult. Tasted three times.Tasted two times.

matthewjukes.com

17,5

byMatthew Jukesthe4/25/2017

(55 Cabernet Sauvignon, 39 Merlot, 6 Petit Verdot) | 60% new oak | 13.6% alc. A touch muted on the nose and also not as expressive as many of the St-Juliens, this is a controlled Talbot with a lovely, buoyant mid-palate which makes up for the flat start. Oak is evident and this bruises the fruit somewhat but overall this is a solid effort but I cannot help feeling that they could have pushed this wine more. 17.5

Decanter.com

94

byJane Ansonthe4/24/2017

Lovely deep damson colour with violet edging that suggests a healthy pH. Great balance of fruit and acidity, this is one of the fresher wines of the appellation. The fruit is cleanly extracted, fresh and well paced, with a lovely layer of complexity driven by smoke-edged mineral notes. Aged in 50% new oak. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050

Jancis Robinson

17

byJancis Robinsonthe4/21/2017

Very dark and shiny. Not that intense but very well mannered. Sweet, almost thick, start. Very flattering. If I had to choose one wine to represent the vintage in typical style I might well choose this one – though the hint of heat on the end is a little worrying. Should be rewarding in the end. Great harmony. 

Wine Enthusiast

93-95

byRoger Vossthe4/19/2017

Barrel Sample. This is a juicy wine, already bursting with fruit and well-integrated tannins. It is a wine with a medium-term future, best enjoyed around 2026.

Wine Spectator

93-96

byJames Molesworththe4/10/2017

Pure, with a core of cassis and blueberry fruit streaming through, carried by ample yet embedded graphite-edged grip. Keeps a fresh feel through the finish. Lovely.—J.M.

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2017

A full-bodied red that stays in check with a firm and lightly chewy tannin backbone. Full body and an intense finish. Shows excellent potential.