Chateau Talbot, in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Medoc, is a fourth growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Its name originates from Connetable Talbot, a famous English soldier and governor of Guyenne, who was defeated at the battle of Castillon in 1453.

The 107 hectare vineyard is situated on the bank of the Gironde estuary on hilltops of alluvial gravel over a core of fossil-rich limestone. All but five hectares is planted to red wine grapes. The reds of Talbot are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (66%) which provides tannic structure and power. With 26% Merlot, the wines become rounder and more suave, while the Petit Verdot provides a delicate touch, like spices in fine cuisine.

The grand vin represents 50 to 60% of the estate’s production. The estate also produces a second wine, le Connetable Talbot, plus Seigneur de Talbot, designated primarily for the Chinese wine market, and one of the oldest white wines in the Medoc, Caillou Blanc.

The grand vin of Talbot is harvested by hand, with vinification in a combination of cone-shaped wooden vats and stainless steel tanks. The wine is aged for 14 months in 50 to 60 percent new barrels originating from eight different coopers. Renowned enologists Jacques Boissenot, Julien Lavenu and Stéphane Derenoncourt consult on the winemaking and blending.

The 2019 Talbot Bordeaux Blend from the St. Julien sub-region of Bordeaux, France, is receiving significant attention for its notable quality and aging potential. Produced by Talbot, this wine features a classic red color and is sealed with a traditional cork. The alcohol content is 13.5%.

James Suckling rated this vintage 95 points, praising its "ripe redcurrants and plums with violet and other flowers on the nose." He noted its "full-bodied" character, complemented by "firm, polished tannins that are ripe yet firm." Suckling recommends waiting until at least 2026 to fully enjoy this wine, describing it as having a "chewy finish" and a "pretty center-palate" (jamessuckling.com).

Decanter also awarded it a high score of 93 points, emphasizing its "expressive nose," which features "floral black cherry and dark chocolate notes." The review highlighted the "high toned" freshness and described the wine as having "definite grippy tannins" with "smooth edges." Decanter appreciated its "nice appeal," noting a touch of rusticity on the finish with "licks of liquorice spice" (Decanter).

Vinous' Neal Martin gave the 2019 Talbot 94 points, commending its classic Saint-Julien profile. Martin highlighted the high proportion (69%) of Cabernet Sauvignon in this vintage, attributing the wine's improvement to the appointment of Jean-Michel Laporte. He described the bouquet as "delineated, focused" with "blackberry scents and touches of pencil lead." Martin also praised its "superb line of acidity" and "very fine tannins" (Vinous).

Wine Enthusiast rated it between 94 and 96 points, calling it a "rich, spicy and smoky wine" with "generous tannins" and "blackberry fruit flavors." The review stated that the wine's impressive structure promises plenty of aging potential (Wine Enthusiast).

Jeb Dunnuck also rated it 93 points, describing it as "straight-up impressive" with a "dense purple hue" and a "powerful nose of cassis, scorched earth, smoked tobacco, and spicy wood." He noted that the wine is "rich, black-fruited, medium to full-bodied, and structured" (jebdunnuck.com).

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded it 93 points, highlighting its "aromas of earthy cassis, plums, burning embers and pencil shavings." The review described the wine as "fleshy and succulent" with "powdery tannins, lively acids and a savory finish" (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate).

Wine Spectator gave it 95 points, praising its "deep well of red and black currant paste and plum reduction flavors" and "subtle savory, tobacco, and singed cedar notes" (Wine Spectator).

Jane Anson rated it 95 points, appreciating its "precision and elegance" and the "rich blueberry and blackberry fruits" with "waves of cinnamon, cocoa bean, cloves edging, and smoked coffee beans" (janeanson.com).

Jeff Leve rated it 93 points, describing it as "medium-bodied" with "juicy, fresh, bright currants and spice" and a "tangy hint of sweet cranberry, spice, and herbs" (TheWineCellarInsider.com).

Overall, the 2019 Talbot Bordeaux Blend is highly regarded for its expressive nose, complex palate, and significant aging potential.