The 2014 Talbot is a Bordeaux blend hailing from the renowned St Julien sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This red wine, with an alcohol content of 13.5%, offers a complex profile that has garnered a range of reviews from esteemed wine critics.
Wine Spectator awarded this vintage a score of 92, appreciating its "gently steeped plum, blackberry and anise flavors" that are "intertwined with light licorice snap and roasted apple wood notes." The publication noted its focused yet charmingly supple edge, suggesting it is best enjoyed from 2020 through 2030.
Wine Enthusiast also assigned a 92 score, highlighting the wine's fruity nature with "blueberry and black-currant fruits" supported by spice and tannins from wood aging. The wine is expected to develop nicely over the medium term, with a recommended drinking window starting in 2020, according to Roger Voss.
James Suckling gave the wine an impressive score of 94, remarking on its "smoky oak, full body and chunky tannins" which make a bold statement. He labeled it as the "best Talbot in years" and advised drinking it in 2023.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, with a score of 90, noted that the wine felt "reticent and tightly knit on the nose" initially, but revealed "blackcurrant, smoke and tobacco aromas" after some aeration. Neal Martin observed that the wine showed improvement over time, suggesting it may need more bottle aging.
Jeb Dunnuck echoed this score of 90, describing the wine as "classically styled" with "lots of black fruits, smoked herbs, and graphite." He praised its dense and concentrated nature, projecting a drinking window of another 10-15 years.
Decanter awarded it 93 points, appreciating its "good, firm fruits" and "spicy, flexible tannins." This review emphasizes the wine's promise of a long life and its appealing savoriness.
Overall, the 2014 Talbot is recognized as a well-crafted, classic Saint-Julien wine with the potential for further development in the bottle.