Chateau Talbot - Saint-Julien 2014 (750ml)

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Producer	Chateau Talbot
Country	France
Region	Bordeaux
Subregion	Saint-Julien
Varietal	Cabernet Sauvignon,  Merlot,  Petit Verdot
Vintage	2014
Sku	39217
Size	750ml

 

WA

90

JD

90

JR

16.5

JS

94

V

89

This prestigious Médoc Grand Cru Classé, Château Talbot, epitomizes the excellence of the Saint-Julien appellation in Bordeaux. Nestled within a region boasting 11 classified growths, this esteemed estate spans an impressive 107 hectares of meticulously tended vineyards. The château's terroir is nothing short of exceptional, benefiting from a prime location on the banks of the Gironde estuary. Here, the vines flourish on elevated slopes composed of alluvial gravel, a geological gift transported over millennia by the Dordogne and Garonne rivers from the distant Massif Central and Pyrénées mountains. This unique terroir, combined with the estate's rich heritage and expert viticulture, sets the stage for wines of remarkable depth, complexity, and true Bordelais character

The smoky oak, full body and chunky tannins make a bold statement; indeed, the wine has plenty of flesh and packs a big tannic punch on the finish. Best Talbot in years. Best after 2023.

Cut from the same cloth as the 2015, just more classic in style, the 2014 Château Talbot offers lots of black fruits, smoked herbs, graphite and a touch of lead pencil on the nose. This is followed by a classically styled, medium-bodied, dense, impressively concentrated 2014 that has another 10-15 years of prime drinking. This is always a well-made, classic Saint-Julien and readers can’t go wrong here.

The 2014 Talbot felt reticent and tightly knit on the nose, so I placed my glass to one side and allowed it to aerate for 15-20 minutes. This paid dividends as it revealed blackcurrant, smoke and tobacco aromas, hints of boysenberry with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite structure and perhaps needing more flow. It feels a little rigid at the moment and I would want more persistence and depth on the finish. Let's see how this ages in bottle, because it certainly showed improvement between samples in October 2016 and February 2017.

The 2014 Talbot has a pastille-like purity on the nose: black cherries, raspberry, brown spices and a touch of leather. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy opening, fine acidity and a bit chewy with a slightly heady, alcoholic finish that you would equate to a warmer growing season. Maybe trying too hard? It feels like a wine that doesn't know what it wants to be and stylistically falls between the cracks. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

Tasted blind. Very dark with evolved bricky rim. Sweet fruit and a touch meaty (but not bretty). Surprisingly fragrant at the same time. Layered aromas. Lively, a little bit sweet-sour on the palate, with fine-grained, well-judged tannins to keep the fruit in shape. A touch of bitterness on the finish. Squeezed a little too hard? (JH)