The 2022 Talbot Bordeaux Blend, produced by Talbot in the St Julien sub-region of Bordeaux, France, has received consistent praise from several notable wine reviewers. This red wine, which features a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, has garnered high scores across the board, reflecting its impressive quality and potential.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com awarded it 95 points, describing it as "elegant, fresh, vibrant, and energetic." He highlights its aromatic profile featuring "spice, flowers, currants, oak, cherries, and spearmint," and praises its "lift, sweetness, length, and complexity." Leve also notes the wine's age-worthy structure and ripe freshness, suggesting it will be enjoyable from 2024 through 2040.
Jeb Dunnuck, also scoring it 95 points, considers the 2022 Talbot as one of the finest vintages from the estate that he can recall. He describes the wine as possessing a "gorgeous nose of pure cassis, blackberries, tobacco, and iron," with a "pure, layered, elegant mouthfeel, and perfectly integrated tannins." Dunnuck emphasizes its classic, lengthy Saint-Julien character and broad drink window.
William Kelley of Robert Parker's Wine Advocate echoes these sentiments, giving the wine 95 points and describing it as "especially impressive." Kelley notes its aromas of "cherries, blackberries, and cassis mingled with hints of violets and pencil lead," along with its "medium to full-bodied, velvety and concentrated" nature. He predicts that this wine could be Talbot's most exciting offering since the 1980s.
James Suckling, awarding it 95 points, emphasizes the wine's "beautiful and refined" texture, noting that the tannins are "integrated and fill out across the palate." He describes it as "medium- to full-bodied and crunchy, with lovely texture and refinement."
Jane Anson, scoring it 94 points, points out its atypical exoticism for a St Julien, with flavors of "plum, damson, black cherry, cloves, cinnamon, liquorice, orange peel, pomegranate, and cassis." She appreciates its freshness, grip, and underlying lift.
Neal Martin from Vinous, who gave it 94 points, highlights the wine's "fragrant bouquet" and "well-balanced" palate, comparing its mineral spine to nearby Gruaud Larose. He predicts it will age well but notes it may need more depth in the middle.
Decanter, also scoring it 95 points, praises the wine's "excellent precision and detail to the tannins and fruit," describing flavors of "cool blueberries, blackcurrants, cola, vanilla, tobacco, and liquorice." They commend its balance of intensity and finesse, noting its impressive crystalline aspects and sense of place.
Lastly, Roger Voss from Wine Enthusiast, giving it 95 points, describes the wine as "rich, finely balanced with layers of black fruits," and notes its "great acidity and structure," which promise a bright future.
In summary, the 2022 Talbot is a highly acclaimed Bordeaux blend with a remarkable balance of elegance, complexity, and age-worthiness, making it a standout choice for collectors and enthusiasts alike.