2022 Château Talbot

The 2022 Talbot was bottled in May. Estate Director Jean-Michel Laporte commented that he sees it as a combination of 2018, 2019 and 2020, though better than those vintages. The 2022 has a tightly knit bouquet, crisp and clean, a little "cooler" in style than I recall and I mean that in a positive way. It neatly shrugs off the warmth of that growing season. There's wonderful purity of fruit here, tinged with tobacco and light chimney soot scents. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit—a quintessential Talbot, with a little more horsepower than recent vintages but fine precision and structure on the finish. I appreciate the finesse of the tannins and the weight throughout this Saint-Julien.

- Neal Martin (01/2025)

The aromas of blackcurrants and dried flowers with fresh herbs like basil and rosemary are extremely attractive. Medium- to full-bodied, this has firm and velvety tannins with a tension and focus that I have not seen for a while. Long and chewy finish. Solid. Drink after 2028 and beyond. (01/2025)

Smoky currants, tobacco leaf, leather, and chocolaty notes all define the 2022 Château Talbot, a sensationally textured, concentrated, medium to full-bodied Saint-Julien. It has plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe, building tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, raised in 60% new oak, it's one of the all-time greats from this château and will have three decades of longevity. (02/2025)

The 2022 Talbot has turned out nicely in bottle, bursting with aromas of cherries, berries, orange zest and petals, framed by a touch of toasty new oak. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, with a rich core of fruit, ripe tannins and a long, cigar-inflected finish, it's a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot that matured in 60% new oak.

- William Kelley (03/2025)