The 2017 Château Talbot might not be from a blockbuster vintage, but it’s got a quiet confidence that makes it super appealing. With a blend led by Cabernet Sauvignon, it shows off a mix of red and black fruits—think currants and plums—with hints of cedar, herbs, and just a whisper of chocolate. It’s medium-bodied, nicely structured, and the tannins are present but smooth, making it easy to enjoy after a bit of bottle age. Not the biggest wine in the cellar, but it’s clean, elegant, and definitely one to have on hand when you want something refined without being too serious.

James Suckling | JS 93
Published: Jan 10, 2020

Impressive depth of fruit and structure to this 2017 with currant, plum and light chocolate character, medium to full body and round, lightly chewy tannins. Flavorful and long. Dialed-in quality here. Drink after 2022. 

The Wine Advocate | RP 91
Published: Mar 16, 2020
Drink: 2020-2033

The 2017 Talbot is medium to deep garnet-purple in color with aromas of cedar, black cherries, mulberries and warm blackcurrants with touches of earth, tree bark and herbs. The palate is medium-bodied, firm, grainy and muscular with an earthy finish. 

Decanter | D 90
Published: Nov 21, 2019
Drink: 2024-2038

Delicate red fruits, showing lovely precision and balance, and soft but unmistakable concentration of menthol and crushed earth notes on the finish. No need to wait too long, there are plenty of tannins here but they are not overpowering the fruit even at this early stage. Slight pyrazine notes stop the fruit from fully expanding, but this is an enjoyable wine.

Jancis Robinson | JR 16+
Published: Mar 29, 2022
Drink: 2024-2035

68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot.
Fresh and fragrant but only just beginning to open. Accent on the fruit with both red- and dark-fruit notes. Light but fine tannic frame. Attractive in a clean, precise, elegant way. Ripe but lacks the substance of a great year so more for medium-term ageing. A touch short on the finish.

Chateau-talbot.com

It’s true, Talbot is a champion of longevity, which doesn’t prevent it from being amiable and round even in its earliest youth, always marked by silky, smooth, very civilized tannins. Talbot is outgoing by nature, never inward-looking. It’s a racy wine, with complex notes of Havana and licorice, deliciously classic without the slightest hint of austerity.

Technical Specs

Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Natural Cork
Vintage: 2017
Oak: French oak barrels
Varietals: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot
Vineyard: Approximately 102.5 hectares on Médoc gravelly soils; average vine age around 49 years
Harvest: 18 September – 4 October 2017; hand-harvested with successive manual and optical sorting
Vinification: Fermentation in oak vats, with careful extraction and parcel selection
Ageing: 15 months in French oak barrels, 50% new oak
Winemaker: Not confirmed for the 2017 vintage
Region: Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France
Classification: 4ème Grand Cru Classé (Fourth Growth), 1855 Classification

Serving Temperature: 16–18°C
Decanting: Decant for approximately 30–60 minutes before serving; allow the wine to open gradually
Food Pairing: Roast lamb, grilled beef, beef tenderloin, venison, duck, game dishes, mushroom preparations and mature hard cheeses