St. Julien wines are for those wanting subtlety, balance and consistency in their Bordeaux. Rewarding and persistent, the best among these Bordeaux Blends are full of blueberry, blackberry, cassis, plum, tobacco and licorice. They are intense and complex and finish with fine, velvety tannins.
Connétable Talbot is the second label from Château Talbot, the 4th Growth estate in Saint-Julien. The Château was created in the mid-15th century by Constable (Connétable in French) John Talbot, who was the Count of Shrewsbury in England as well as Governor of Aquitaine in France. In 1917, the Cordier family purchased the Château, and it is still in the family’s hands today. Recently, the Cordiers completely overhauled all aspects of winemaking to improve the estate’s quality. I would say it is a resounding success.
The wine, grown on the Château’s young vines, is characterized by the same care and vigorous selection as its big brother. The Connétable pours a beautiful garnet color with ripe blackberry and black currant fruit flavors mixed with anise and spice. It is elegant, silky-smooth and incredibly seductive with a firm acidity, soft, structured tannins and a savory, saline mineral quality. This wine is wonderfully accessible now with 20-30 minutes aeration, and it is a perfect candidate for cellaring, as it will age beautifully over the next 15+ years.
Red cherries, white pepper with hints of mint give to this wine a fresh and chewy taste with a lightly toasted hint. The mouth is full and silky with a kind of softness all along the taste which makes this wine very delicate and very approachable already. A second wine is charming and full of pleasure.
"So much sweet tobacco and currant on the nose here, following through to a full body with relatively soft tannins for the appellation. Berry and dark-chocolate character to this. Round tannins. Needs three or four years to soften. Second wine of Talbot. Try after 2024." - 92 Points, James Suckling
"Solidly built, showing plum and cassis notes laced with an anise hint, while singed apple wood pervades on the finish, which also features a late twinge of tar. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2031." - 90 Points, Wine Spectator
Producer: Château Talbot
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Appellation: Saint-Julien
Vintage: 2019
Size: 750ml
