2010 Ch Talbot 4ème Cru, St-Julien

There's a real purity of fruit here with currant and blueberry aromas coming out in the glass. Full body, with fine tannins and a fresh and clean acidity. Very polished tannins. It's all about balance and drinkability here. Try in 2018.

94 points James Suckling Apr 2013

Among the great estates of Saint Julien, Château Talbot has earned a reputation for producing some of Bordeaux's most consistently elegant and approachable wines. Named after the English commander Sir John Talbot, who fell at the Battle of Castillon in 1453, the estate has been owned by the Cordier family for over a century. Its gravelly vineyards and Cabernet Sauvignon led blends have made Talbot a benchmark Fourth Growth, admired for combining classical structure with generosity and charm.

The magnificent 2010 vintage ranks among Bordeaux's greatest, delivering fruit of exceptional concentration, freshness and precision. The deep Günzian gravel soils of Saint Julien produced Cabernet Sauvignon of remarkable intensity, while meticulous vineyard management and careful élevage created a wine with both impressive power and effortless balance. More than a decade in bottle has brought increasing complexity while preserving its youthful vitality.

Deep garnet with youthful ruby highlights, the bouquet is beautifully expressive with aromas of cassis, blackcurrant and black cherry layered with cedar, cigar box and graphite. As the wine opens, notes of violets, tobacco leaf, truffle and pencil shavings emerge, adding further depth and unmistakable Left Bank character. The palate is beautifully composed, revealing concentrated black fruits supported by finely woven tannins, vibrant acidity and a refined mineral backbone. Rich yet impeccably balanced, it finishes with remarkable length, savoury complexity and the quiet confidence that defines great Saint Julien.

A magnificent companion for roast rack of lamb, dry aged rib eye, venison loin, duck with wild mushrooms or mature hard cheeses. Drinking superbly today with a generous decant, this outstanding Talbot has the pedigree and structure to continue rewarding collectors for decades.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2050.