One of the best Talbots over recent years, and possibly the best since the 1986 and 1982, this sexy juggernaut of a wine struts forth with an opaque plum/ruby/purple color and terrific notes of creme de cassis, licorice, roasted herbs and smoky barbecue. It is a brilliant effort, with full body, wonderful fruit, a savory, expansive mouthfeel, sensational texture and a long finish, but no hardness or astringency. This is a fabulous Talbot to drink over the next 20-25 years. Drink: 2013 - 2038
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013

(91-93 pts)
Abundant amounts of sweet, up-front fruit give this wine a precocious appeal compared to many of its brethren. It exhibits a dense plum/ruby/purple hue along with sweet boysenberry, black currant, cherry, smoke and licorice aromas and flavors. This deep, medium to full-bodied, classic Talbot should be approachable when released, and age effortlessly for 15 or more years.

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.
-www.jamessuckling.com, 'Tasting Report: 2010's Greatness Across The Board in Bordeaux', 17 Feb 2013

(92-93 pts)
This super focused and firm, with a bright and intense fruit. Full and super silky, with a long, long finish. Super straight and beautiful. This is better in 2010.

Good dark red. Aromas of black raspberry, tobacco, mocha and smoke. Rich, plush and full in the mouth, but with edgy acidity and a peppery note contributing definition to the raspberry and mineral flavors. Not hugely concentrated but juicy, fine-grained and firmly structured wine with excellent balance. A worthy successor to the very good 2009 release, and even fresher and cleaner. Based on these two vintages, Talbot seems back on track.

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Talbot opens with maturing scents of fruitcake, Chinese five spice and cigar box plus hints of dried mint, pencil lead and chargrill. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is pleasantly spicy, with a light grip of chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing savory.

Plump and rather open, with delicious plum, raspberry and black cherry fruit melded with spice and anise. This has a nice chocolaty finish, with a velvety feel. —J.M.

4th Growth St Julien (62% Harvest, 45hl/ha,13.7%, 50% New) [63CS/32M/5PV] Ripe black fruit nose with a subtle mineral character; fresh, fairly concentrated middleweight, so finely tannic you hardly notice; easy, flowing, juicy blackberry fruit flavour, long and quite complex, but also round, juicy and plump yet freshly defined too, a very nice ‘fleshy’ character with a long, black fruited, spicily aromatic finish. Will make a fine, generous, flowing and silky textured Talbot. 2018-35 [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2011]

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. The Talbot 2010 offers dusky black fruit on the nose: cedar and graphite aromas, a touch of mulch and woodland. It needs more vigour and delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with a soft, broody entry. There are hints of mulberry and Asian spice, but I am seeking more backbone and penetration towards the finish. Still, this is a very fine Talbot, yet regrettably, since this is an estate I adore, it continues to lag behind its peers. Tasted November 2012.

(90-92 pts)
Tasted at the chateau and at the UGC, the Talbot was picked from 29th September with the young vines and around the 4th October for the older. This is the second vintage under Stephane Derenancourt. A blend 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2010 has a refined bouquet that for me, has better harmony and focus than the 2009 at this stage last year, a purity that perhaps has been missing from the estate in recent vintages. The palate is impressive: the Cabernet Sauvignon very pure and focused, a newfound sense of mineralité and elegance and precision towards the finish. One of the best Talbot produced in recent years...but there is still room to improve. Drink 2014- Tasted April 2011.

(63% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot and 5% petit verdot) Bright, deep ruby. Fruity, grapey aromas of strawberry, blood orange, tobacco and cedar. Then more blood orange and strawberry jam on the smooth palate, complicated by hints of lavender and musk. Finishes with good but not outstanding length. This Talbot is in an uncomplicated, easygoing style, but I was a bit put off by a slight green streak to the mounting, palate-dusting tannins.

Light but well-mannered nose. Rather sweet and just a little simple. But it offers correct fruit if just slightly straightforward drinking. Hint of greenness hovers over this very slightly salty wine. (JR)

Beef, dried fruits, clove, cherry. Resolved tannins that nonetheless have a sandiness to the texture. Light body, and the complexity doesn't seem to be flourishing. I wouldn't want that fruit to dry out any further. (RH)

Tasted blind. Deep garnet with soft rim. Complex, smoky and spiced with the start of undergrowth but no lack of dark fruit. Lots of oak. More sweet-fruited on the palate, delicate for a 2010. Juicy, fresh. (JH)