This is very fine for the vintage with a lovely blueberry and currants and spice character. Full body, with well-integrated tannins and a pretty finish.

Talbot’s dense ruby/purple color is followed by an attractive, spicy, earthy St.-Julien displaying hints of tapenade, black cherries and soil undertones in a forward, lush, round, seductive style. This excellent, medium-bodied 2011 should provide delicious drinking for 10-15 years. Talbot appears to have succeeded admirably in this vintage.

This has solid depth, with good winey currant and blackberry fruit at the core, picking up briar, anise and sweet tobacco as it moves through the finish.-J.M.

Good bright ruby. Sexy oak spices, mint and menthol complicate bright redcurrant and dark plum on the nose. Round but fresh and lively too, with lovely vinosity giving shape and lift to the dark cherry, plum and sweet spice flavors. Offers a fleshy sweetness that's unusual for the year. This lovely wine finishes with good length.

[58CS/37M/5PV] Dumb and yet with clear ripe fruit there; easy, flowing, relatively supple middleweight with a light defining dry tannin; gently fleshy, fresh and lightly dry-edged, pleasing but fairly straightforward flavour, and with good light length. 2019-29 [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2012]

Copious black currant, olive, unroasted coffee bean, forest floor and underbrush characteristics are present in this attractive, dark plum/ruby/purple-tinged offering. One of the lighter-styled 2011 St.-Juliens, the well-made Talbot can be drunk over the next decade.

The Talbot 2011 has a tight, slightly pinched bouquet with blackberry and sous-bois, but missing a little “energy” considering that Saint Julien is one of the year’s more consistent appellations. The palate is medium-bodied with light sappy dark berry fruit. The oak is nicely integrated although it is hampered by a rather dry, very conservative finish. It is not a bad Talbot, but it needs to evolve more personality. Tasted April 2012.

Muted nose but free-flowing black fruit with much higher concentration on the palate. Wiry tannin. (RH)

Drink 2018-2030 Dark cherry crimson. Cassis aroma, a touch dusty. Furry texture with thick tannins, freshness pulling it through on the finish. Nice density of fruit should fill out the frame as the tannins soften/clarify. (JH)

They make around 40,000 cases of this wine. Inky crimson. Coffee-bean and cassis aromas. Papery tannins and rather flat in the middle. Just enough freshness. Cool but flat finish. (JH)