2020 Talbot

95 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

Spicy, structured and dense, this is a complex, smoky and powerful wine. With polished fruit and structure, it comes from an increasingly impressive estate. Drink the wine from 2027.

95 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter

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.

95 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

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.

94 POINTS

James Suckling

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.

94 POINTS

James Suckling

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

93 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

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.

93 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

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.

91 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Wine Advocate

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.