Talbot 2015

After our previous review, we did not have the opportunity to taste the 2015 Talbot, but we rely on expert ratings for this vintage. The 2015 vintage holds significance in Talbot's history and is known for its exceptional quality and potential for ageing. Talbot is always velvety, and 2015 is riper and more structured. It has a balanced structure in terms of acidity and tannin texture, and in that sense, it is not as silky as other older vintages, but will eventually be in 5 years plus time. The nose is slightly suppressed for now and will express even more if you have the slight patience to wait for some moments in the glass.

The 2015 Talbot displays remarkable complexity and is showing much better now than just a year ago. It has a more intense bouquet compared to Gruaud Larose and Lagrange. Initial blackberry and bilberry scents and cedar and subtle mint aromas provide complexity as they sit in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins on entry and a fine bead of acidity and layers of graphite-infused black fruit. The precision and superb persistence of the finish are impressive. This assessment was made blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

In July 2019, Neal Martin of vinous.com rated it RP93. This is a robust, full-bodied wine for St. Julien, demonstrating impressive concentration.

It carries plenty of spicy and toasty oak notes, a testament to its strength. The tannins will require some time to soften, but the elegant finish suggests that from 2020, this wine should make a strong impression. - 94 points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2018.