The 2019 Château Talbot is a real gem from Saint-Julien—classic, but with a modern touch. It’s got that smooth, polished feel with loads of dark berries, a bit of chocolate, and just enough savory edge to keep things interesting. The blend leans heavily on Cabernet Sauvignon, giving it structure and longevity, while the Merlot and Petit Verdot add roundness and spice. Aged in half new oak, it’s rich but not over the top. Whether you open it now or let it age for a couple decades, it’s got charm, balance, and serious staying power.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 94-95
Published: Jun 3, 2020

A juicy, fruity wine with lots of blue fruit, blackberries and dark chocolate. Pretty depth and structure to this. Polished and structured at the same time.

Decanter | D 95
Published: Oct 4, 2024
Drink: 2025-2045

The youthful and energetic 2019 Talbot, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, retains grace despite its ripeness. Still bold for a St-Julien, it shows the restraint and elegance of Talbot. Brimming with black fruit, and a suave, silky texture, the savoury side has just started to peek out. With its impeccable balance, I’m sure it will develop gorgeously.

The Wine Advocate | RP 93
Published: Apr 7, 2022
Drink: 2027-2055

The 2019 Talbot is performing well, opening in the glass with aromas of earthy cassis, plums, burning embers and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and succulent, with powdery tannins, lively acids and a savory finish, it's Jean-Michel Laporte's second vintage at this sleeping giant of Saint-Julien. This will be an estate to watch closely going forward.

Of this estate's 110 hectares, occupying one large block, 94 are planted to red varieties. The grand vin consistently derives from the plateau's higher-altitude gravel soils, but other parcels make a contribution in some vintages (Talbot also own a solitary one-hectare block within the heart of Gruaud Larose that they are reluctant to part with). Historically, the density of plantation at Talbot was always rather low—because it was ploughed by oxen rather than by horse, Jean-Michel Laporte speculates—but new plantings these days are at 8,000 vines per hectare, with Merlot being replaced by Cabernet Sauvignon in the deep gravels. In 2006, modernization began, with lower yields, a later harvest and war on Brettanomyces (almost a house signature in the past). Laporte, formerly winemaker of Pomerol's La Conseillante, has continued his predecessor's work and seeks to bring a bit more mid-palate volume to the wine, increasing somewhat the percentage of new oak to 60%. 2019 is his second vintage at Talbot, and it's certainly impressive. Anyone who has tasted wines such as the 1945, 1982 and 1986 knows what Talbot can achieve, so this is clearly an estate to watch. 

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.

Owner: Family Bignon-Cordier
Appellation: Saint-Julien, 4th Classified Growth in 1855
Area of vines: 102,5 ha
Terroir: Medoc’s gravelly soil
Planting density: 7 700 plants/ha
Age of vines: 45 years
Pruning: Medoc double guyot
Farming: Traditional plowing 4 ways
Harvests: Manual
Sorting:; Successive (manual and optical sorting)
Winemaking: In oak vats
Blend: 69 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 26 % Merlot, 5 % Petit Verdot
Degree: 14,1 % vol
Yield: 46 hl/ha
Harvests: From September 19th to October 8th
Ageing: 15 months in oak barrels (50% new)
Bottling: From May 3rd to 18th 2021