Wine Spectator's #4 Wine of 2022

Ranked Number 4 on Wine Spectator's Top 10 List of 2022, Château Talbot landed its well-deserved recognition.  It comes as a no surprise for Bordeaux connoisseurs and collectors.

The 2019 harvest was Jean-Michel Laporte’s second vintage as general manager of Château Talbot. One of the primary changes he has made in the vineyard is removing leaves earlier than before (mid-June instead of July), allowing more maturity and aeration, which protects the grape bunches from disease. Vinification adjustments include more pump-overs at the very beginning and fewer at the end, as well as earlier extraction, which he feels avoids dryness and astringency. Lastly, he increased the proportion of new oak slightly, from 50 percent to 60 percent, giving the wine a richer, more sumptuous feel without an overly oaky flavor.

"Well-built and rather refined for the vintage, with a deep well of red and black currant paste and plum reduction flavors supported by a deeply inlaid iron note, all of which run the length of the wine. Offers subtle savory, tobacco and singed cedar notes that add range, with a savory echo that leaves a mouthwatering feel in the end. Built to cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2040." —James Molesworth, Ratings: 95

"The 2019 Talbot has a very cohesive bouquet, "streamlined" being the operative word, before opening gradually to reveal a Pauillac-inspired aromatics, pencil shaving scents permeating the black fruit. Yet it is still unmistakably Talbot. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, creamy in texture with more depth in the middle than previous vintages (a shortcoming that, estate director Jean-Michel Laporte told me in the past he wants to address.) The great aspect of this Talbot is that it doesn't take its foot off the pedal on the finish, exerting impressive grip with that pencil lead lingering in the mouth. Superb. Expect this to land at the top of my banded score." - Neal Martin, vinous, (June, 2020), Rating: 93-95, Drink: 2026-2055

"The 2019 Château Talbot is another beautiful vintage for this château, offering pure Cabernet notes of cassis, tobacco leaf, graphite, and lead pencil. With medium to full body, a pure, balanced, focused texture, and building tannins, it's well worth a case purchase and is a classic, elegant yet concentrated Talbot to enjoy over the coming 20 years or more."- Jeb Dunnuck  Rating: 93-95, Drink: 2020-2040

"A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged in 80% new oak barriques, the 2018 Léoville Poyferré comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of Morello cherries, plum preserves and blackberry pie, giving way to nuances of cedar chest, unsmoked cigars, vanilla pod and sassafras, plus a waft of crushed rocks. The palate is full-bodied, rich and decadent, delivering hedonic black fruits and lots of spicy accents with a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long and satisfyingly savory. This is a very impressive showing that is delicious out of the gate but has the backbone to give a good 30 years or more of pleasure." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate (3/31/2021), Ratings: 97, Drink: 2024-2054