2016 Ch Talbot 4ème Cru, St-Julien

Cedar, wet earth and black currant aromas. Tight fruit with a precise, vibrant and fresh palate, showing balance and a medium body. Enjoyable now. Drink or hold. 10 Years On retrospective.

95 points Jacobo García Andrade for James Suckling

Among the great names of Saint Julien, Château Talbot has earned an enduring reputation for producing wines that combine classical Bordeaux structure with generosity, charm and remarkable consistency. Named after the English commander Sir John Talbot, who fell at the Battle of Castillon in 1453, the estate has been in the hands of the Cordier family for over a century. Its gravelly vineyards have made Talbot one of the Médoc's most admired Fourth Growths.

The exceptional 2016 vintage stands among Bordeaux's finest, delivering Cabernet Sauvignon of extraordinary purity, balance and precision. Saint Julien's deep gravel soils produced fruit of exceptional concentration while retaining freshness and elegance, creating a wine with both immediate appeal and the structure for decades of graceful evolution.

Deep garnet with youthful ruby highlights, the bouquet reveals aromas of cassis, blackcurrant and black cherry layered with cedar, graphite and cigar box. As the wine opens, notes of violets, tobacco leaf, pencil shavings and subtle spice emerge, adding depth and classic Left Bank character. The palate is beautifully proportioned, combining concentrated black fruits with polished tannins, vibrant freshness and a finely etched mineral backbone. Seamless and refined, the finish lingers with savoury complexity, cedar and the unmistakable elegance that defines great Saint Julien.

A magnificent partner for Chateaubriand, roast rack of lamb, venison loin, duck with wild mushrooms or mature Comté. While already deeply impressive with extended decanting, this outstanding Fourth Growth has the pedigree and balance to evolve beautifully for decades.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2052.