Talbot - Saint-Julien 2020

Vinous

94-94

byNeal Martinthe2/28/2025

The 2020 Talbot was corked on the first bottle. The second has a refined and focused bouquet, with more black fruit than its peers. Cedar and light minty notes impart a Pauillac-like personality. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine delineation, lovely poise and a sorbet-fresh, high-toned finish. This appears to have meliorated since I tasted it just after bottling, hence the higher score. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Alexandre Ma

94

byAlexandre Mathe4/18/2023

Wine Spectator

95

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2023

Exuberant, with generous plum sauce, licorice root, blackberry compote and apple wood notes vying for attention, as graphite and cast iron accents drive along underneath. Reveals a little flash of exotic toast that snazzes up the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2030 through 2040. 18,000 cases made, 1,400 cases imported.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/30/2023

Another gorgeous 2020, the 2020 Château Talbot has an almost Pauillac-like sense of graphite and lead pencil as well as ripe blackcurrant fruit, medium to full body, and abundant notes of smoked tobacco, leather, and dried herbs. It shows the more focused, almost austere, yet still ripe style of the vintage and has terrific mid-palate depth, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. There's an almost old school Bordeaux-like vibe in this beauty, but it's not rustic in any way, the balance is spot on, and it has loads of character. I'd be thrilled with bottles in the cellar. It's going to evolve nicely for two decades or more.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93

byJeff Levethe3/22/2023

Classy and classic, the wine pops with aromatics consisting of flowers, tobacco leaf, currants, spearmint and peppery blackberries. On the palate, the wine is medium/full-bodied, lively and loaded with layers of sweet, juicy, fresh black and red currants, savory herbs, wet earth and dark cocoa. Give it just a few years in the bottle and it will offer over 2 decades of pleasure. Things continue improving here under the direction of Jean-Michel Laporte. Drink from 2025-2050.

Alexandre Ma

94

byAlexandre Mathe3/15/2023

Wines Critic

96

byRaffaele Vecchionethe3/10/2023

Incredibly well researched in the sensory profile showing notes of black tea leaves, black prunes, sandalwood, juniper berries, black pepper and coriander. In the background the essence of Saint Julien comes through with hints of sage and marjoram giving it a Mediterranean authenticity. Full bodied, biting tannins of optimum craftsmanship and a solid, tense finale which shows what the Bordeaux 2020 is made of.

Vinous

95

byAntonio Gallonithe2/24/2023

The 2020 Talbot is every bit as impressive as it was from barrel. Strong Cabernet Sauvignon inflections open first in the bouquet, leading into a rich palate laced with expressive dark cherry and plum fruit. A Saint-Julien of power and stature, Talbot is fabulous in 2020. I love the breadth and overall intensity here, but there is just as much focus to keep things in balance. The 2020 is superb, certainly the best in recent memory.

Vinous

93

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2023

The 2020 Talbot contains the highest degree of Cabernet Sauvignon to date (76%). It has developed a wonderful, classically-styled nose built around black fruit laced with mint and graphite. The palate is very well balanced and again, classic in style, a touch of wild mint intimating Pauillac instead of Saint-Julien. The mid-palate demonstrates the weight that was missing in vintages of the Nineties. Plenty of freshness on the finish - this is an impressive Talbot.

Jamessuckling.com

94

byJames Sucklingthe1/16/2023

Focused and composed with notes of currants, truffles, dried leaves, dark chocolate and graphite. It’s full-bodied, with firm, fine tannins giving sturdy support throughout. Savory and austere at the moment. Needs some time to open up. Try after 2026.

Wine Spectator

95

byJames Molesworththe11/30/2022

Exuberant, with generous plum sauce, licorice root, blackberry compote and apple wood notes vying for attention, as graphite and cast iron accents drive along underneath. Reveals a little flash of exotic toast that snazzes up the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2030 through 2040. 

TASTED

93

byAndreas Larssonthe7/6/2021

Pure nose, high ripeness, rather sweet fruit with some herbal spiciness, bay leaf and sage. Supple and ample texture, fine polish, elegant and persistent.

Vinous

92-95

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Talbot is a hugely promising wine. It offers up an exotic mélange of inky dark fruit, chocolate, licorice, gravel, lavender and menthol. Brooding in the glass, with broad shoulders and tons of intensity, the 2020 is a Talbot that marries power, breadth and savory intensity with notable stylishness and tons of personality. Impressive.

Jeb DUNNUCK

91-93

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

The 2020 Château Talbot is a winner and certainly an outstanding wine. Offering lots of blackcurrants, green tobacco, chocolate, and lead pencil notes, it’s a classic Saint-Julien, with medium to full body, velvety tannins, and a rounded, layered texture. It’s ripe, yet certainly plays in the fresher end of the pool and should have 15-20 years of longevity.

Tastingbook.com

94

byMarkus Del Monegothe5/28/2021

Dark Purple colour with violet hue and black core. Aromatic nose with ripe black cherries, blackcurrants and mild spices, very classic style. On the palate excellent structure , balance and freshness, a wine with excellent aromatic depth and length. 

Vinous

92-94

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Talbot has a fragrant nose with black cherries, bilberry, wild mint and chalk, quite harmonious and gaining intensity in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet, almost candied opening, predominantly red berry fruit laced with mint and orange zest, and a liberal sprinkling of black pepper. I admire the way this Talbot builds so that it finishes with a flourish. This may well land at the top of my banded score.

Decanter.com

95

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

This is a great Talbot, a real success for the château. Subtle and deft touches throughout, from the smoked turmeric notes that lace the black fruits to the finessed aromatics that accompany the body of the wine. Balance and freshness, and a saline edge to the finish that is extremely moreish. Three years with Jean-Michel Laporte as director and he is doing great work.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

The array of flowers and fruits here, blackberry, black currant, kirsch and cassis is just great! Concentrated, fresh and lifted, the wine is long, elegant, and expansive with a solid touch of minerality and crispness to the fruits on the palate and in the finish bringing complexity and ageability here. This is going to be just great with 7-9 years of aging. Things continue improving here under the direction of Jean-Michel Laporte. 93-95 Pts 92-94

Wine Advocate

90-92

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Talbot storms out of the glass with powerful blackcurrants, raspberry leaves and baked plums scents, followed by suggestions of dried Mediterranean herbs, tobacco leaf and graphite. The medium-bodied palate delivers lovely freshness and an approachable chewiness, nicely framing the herb-laced black fruits, finishing savory.

Anthocyanes

91-93

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Avec des notes de cassis, de fruits frais et une pointe variétale, le nez reste classique. En bouche, c'est tendu, les tanins serrent, l'ensemble est structurant et sur l'allonge. On ressent toutefois une pointe variétale en finale. Une extraction puissante. Attendons les élevages que tout soit homogénéisé.

Bernard Burtschy

95-96

byBernard Burtschythe5/10/2021

Falstaff

92-94

byPeter Moserthe5/10/2021

Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Feine Pflaumen, ein Hauch von Cassis und Nougat unterlegt, kandierte Orangenzesten. Saftige Herzkirschenfrucht, angenehme Süße, reife gut integrierte Tannine, elegant, feinwürzig im Abgang, bereits gut entwickelt.

My Bettane + Desseauve

96-97

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021

Jamessuckling.com

94-95

byJames Sucklingthe4/23/2021

A tight, focused young red with blackcurrant, lead-pencil and chocolate character. It’s full-bodied and tense with a long, flavorful finish.