Szechuan peppercorns on the nose, something quite spiced, maybe woody, with fragrant blackcurrants too. Sleek and streamlined, tangy and vibrant but with some tension that shuts down some of the fruity enjoyment. I like...

The 2014 Plince opens in the glass with a seductive medley of concentrated red and blue fruit. This yields to undertones of dry violets, cedar and sweet tobacco before concluding with mineral and dry earth notes...

Deep garnet-brick in color, the 2014 La Mission Haut-Brion needs a swirl or two to unlock notes of blackberry pie, creme de cassis, and espresso plus nuances of truffle, tapenade, and fragrant soil. The medium to...

The 2014 Clinet is rich and round but slightly more refined than the 2012, which is arguably its qualitative peer. Lots of black cherry fruit but with that beautiful elegant Pomerol charm. Plush and plump and will age...

The 2014 Branaire-Ducru has a "quieter" bouquet than its peers, a little muted at first, though well-defined with mainly black tertiary fruit laced with tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. It's a...

The 2014 Faugeres still has bundles of red plum and juniper berry on the nose, if anything even more generous than when I tasted it a few months ago. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, superb structure and well...

Medium to deep garnet-brick in color, the 2014 Fonplegade waltzes out with showy notes of kirsch, blackberry preserves, and rosebud tea with hints of leather sofa and star anise. The medium-bodied palate is plush and...

Ripe and racy, with a lovely core of cassis, plum and blackberry confiture notes, laced with graphite details. Vivid from start to finish, delivering a sense of polish that makes it approachable already, though there's no...

The 2014 Poesia feels more Merlot-driven on the nose compared to the 2013. There is more red fruit here with crushed strawberry, bing cherry, blueberry and violet aromas. This coalesces in the glass, becoming more and...

Medium to deep garnet-brick in color, the 2014 d'Armailhac rolls out with evocative notes of cassis, plum preserves, and menthol opening out to nuances of rosebud tea, underbrush, and crushed rocks. The medium-bodied...

Intensely aromatic nose, floral and lifted but deep and dark too. Ripe and fully flavoured, if not weighty and plush. This has concentration and a feeling of power and kick underneath the bright red cherry fruit and salty...

The 2014 Château de Fieuzal has a high-toned nose with a little more VA than its peers. It's lush and gains harmony with time in the glass, dried black cherries mixed with raisin and fig. The palate is medium-bodied with...

The 2014 Vray Croix de Gay has an almost timid bouquet at first, and it necessitates coaxing it out from the glass, because there are certainly some pretty red berry fruit here, laced with black truffle and smoky scents...

Good, firm fruits are well placed, with notes of cedar, liquorice and cassis – this really is an enjoyable Talbot that offers the promise of a long life. There's enjoyable grip and tenacity through the palate, with spicy...

The 2014 Grand Mayne is medium to deep garnet-brick in color. Fragrant notes of sandalwood and Chinese five spice leap from the glass, with underlying hints of fruitcake and plum pudding. The medium-bodied palate is...