The smoky oak, full body and chunky tannins make a bold statement; indeed, the wine has plenty of flesh and packs a big tannic punch on the finish. Best Talbot in years. Drink in 2023.

The 2014 Talbot is soft, silky and wonderfully nuanced on the palate. Much more refined from bottle than it was from barrel, the 2014 has moved toward greater finesse over the last two years. This is a lovely effort. Lifted rose petal and lavender notes add closing nuance. The blend is 62 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 35 % Merlot and 6 % Petit Verdot. Tasted two times.

The 2014 Talbot felt reticent and tightly knit on the nose, so I placed my glass to one side and allowed it to aerate for 15-20 minutes. This paid dividends as it revealed blackcurrant, smoke and tobacco aromas, hints of boysenberry with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite structure and perhaps needing more flow. It feels a little rigid at the moment and I would want more persistence and depth on the finish. Let's see how this ages in bottle, because it certainly showed improvement between samples in October 2016 and February 2017. (Neal Martin)

The 2014 Talbot has a ripe and generous bouquet with black cherries, boysenberry and light violet petal aromas that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy and chunky tannin, good weight in the mouth if just missing the finesse of its peers towards the finish. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (vinous)

Tasted blind. Very dark with evolved bricky rim. Sweet fruit and a touch meaty (but not bretty). Surprisingly fragrant at the same time. Layered aromas. Lively, a little bit sweet-sour on the palate, with fine-grained, well-judged tannins to keep the fruit in shape. A touch of bitterness on the finish. Squeezed a little too hard? (JH)

62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. Crimson hue. Dense and dark with a floral iris-note on the nose. Still youthful and austere. Solid and reserved on the palate with a powerful tannic frame. Big and muscular and built to age but lacks a little charm. (JL)