CHATEAU TALBOT 4eme Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 2021 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
Chateau Talbot 2021 is a poised, refined Saint Julien marrying firm structure with a silky textural core. Deep ruby with a bright core and garnet rim, it opens with blackcurrant, bramble and dark cherry, edged by violet, cedar and pencil lead; aeration reveals olive tapenade and smoked meat. Medium plus with a generous mid palate, fine grained tannins and fresh acidity, flavours of cassis, plum and damson evolve into soy reduction, black olive and clove, finishing long with a saline mineral seam. Approachable with gentle decanting and will reward cellaring. Drink 2026 to 2040. Pair with roast lamb, ribeye, venison or mushroom dishes. Critics: Decanter 93 "Elegance and class"; Vinous 93 "Exquisite"; James Suckling 92–93 "Fruity and attractive."

ABOUT THIS WINE
Chateau Talbot 4eme Grand Cru Classe Saint Julien 2021 is a poised and refined claret that marries Saint Julien firmness with a refined textural core. The colour is a deep ruby with a bright core and a subtle garnet rim, indicating youthful concentration and early development. The nose opens with fresh blackcurrant, bramble and dark cherry, brightened by violet and a hint of redcurrant lift; with airing the bouquet broadens to reveal cedar, pencil lead and gentle graphite minerality, while savoury notes of olive tapenade and cured meat add depth.

The wine displays a generous yet refined mid palate, with supple weight and finely grained tannins that provide backbone without austerity. Primary dark fruit of cassis, plum and damson is complemented by savoury layers of smoked meat, black olive and dried herb, while discreet oak seasoning contributes clove, toasted spice and a shadow of dark chocolate that supports rather than overwhelms the fruit. Acidity is fresh and precise, threading through the core and giving the wine energy and clarity; a cool saline mineral seam and a faint iron note lengthen the finish and emphasise terroir.

The 2021 vintage in Bordeaux was marked by climatic variability that produced wines of clarity and moderate alcohol with lively acidity rather than sheer opulence. At Talbot this translated into a wine with measured intensity, elegant tannic structure and aromatic precision rather than excessive weight. Winemaking has emphasised balance and gentle extraction to preserve freshness and varietal expression.

Approachable now with gentle decanting, the 2021 will also reward medium term cellaring as tertiary notes of leather and forest floor integrate with the primary fruit. Drink 2026 to 2040, peaking 2028 to 2034. Serve with roast lamb, leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic, beef daube, chargrilled ribeye, venison loin with juniper, mushroom and truffle dishes, cassoulet or mature hard cheeses such as comte to complement the wine’s structure, savoury depth and poised dark fruit.

DECANTER 93 points
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle (at Bordeaux, 01 Apr 2022) Part of St-Julien 2021 in bottle: Overview plus top-scoring wines
Drinking Window: 2024 - 2048
Spearmint and blackcurrants on the nose with some gorgeous perfume too. Excellent intensity of blackcurrant juice, not fleshy, more linear and direct, the lightness of flavour balancing with fine, just gripping tannins that also offer touches of tobacco and toasted spice flavours. It's overall quite a delicate and well worked wine for the vintage, with gentle fruit persistence and a lifted finish. Will no doubt round out over ageing, giving more density to the really beautifully presented floral-touched bramble fruit. Elegance and class; promising indeed.

VINOUS 93 points
The 2021 Talbot is an absolutely gorgeous wine. Aromatic, layered and impeccably balanced, Talbot is simply exquisite in 2021. Sweet pipe tobacco, incense, dried flowers, mint, licorice and blue-toned fruits are some of the notes that grace this super-refined Saint-Julien. All the elements are so well balanced. The floral, effusive finish is so inviting. - Antonio Galloni

JAMES SUCKLING 92-93 points
A fruity and attractive 2021 with currant and berry aromas and flavors. Hints of citrus. Medium body. Fresh finish.

THE WINE ADVOCATE (91-92) points
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 2021 Talbot is promising, exhibiting aromas of wild berries, cherries, cigar wrapper and sweet spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety palate that's bright and seamless, with an enveloping, charming profile despite analytically rather high levels of polyphenols. This is a fine effort that reminds Jean-Michel Laporte of the 2001 vintage in style—though the 2021 will benefit from all the improvements that the last two decades have witnessed at this address.

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ABOUT CHATEAU TALBOT
Château Talbot is a respected Fourth Growth from the 1855 Classification, located in the Saint Julien appellation on Bordeaux’s left bank. The estate is recognised for producing wines that combine classical structure with aromatic clarity, typically showing Cabernet Sauvignon driven power balanced by Merlot suppleness. Talbot’s position on deep gravel soils contributes to ripe concentration, fine tannins and a discernible mineral thread.

The property is owned by the Cordier family through their holding company, whose stewardship has overseen significant investment in vineyard renewal, cellar technology and long term quality initiatives. The family ownership encourages a coherent vision that balances respect for tradition with measured technical progress. Management focus has been on improving parcel definition and enhancing vineyard health to reflect site identity more precisely in the wines.

Vineyards extend to around 100 hectares and are planted predominantly to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with smaller plantings of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Vine age varies across the holdings, from mature, low yielding plots to younger vines introduced through replanting programmes. Viticultural practice stresses canopy management, yield control and selective hand harvesting to secure physiological ripeness and maintain natural acidity. Increasing attention to soil health, cover cropping and sustainable practices has been applied to preserve long term vigour and terroir expression.

Winemaking is directed by an experienced technical team under the estate director, aided by a technical director and cellar staff who manage parcel by parcel vinification. The cellar regimen includes meticulous sorting, temperature managed fermentations and measured extraction to build structure while retaining aromatic definition. Ageing is undertaken in French oak, with barrel selection tailored to support rather than overwhelm fruit character. Regular blending trials and sensory evaluation guide the final assemblage for the grand vin and for the second wine.

In style Château Talbot typically exhibits blackcurrant, plum, cedar and graphite notes, often accompanied by tobacco leaf and a saline mineral undertow. The wines show firm yet refined tannins and the capacity to age gracefully, making Talbot a reliable example of Saint Julien balance and longevity.