This delivers an energetic tumble of blackberry, boysenberry and black currant paste flavors injected with bramble and apple wood and supported by a licorice snap accent. The strapping finish is laced with violet and iris notes, while a cast iron edge lends bass. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2027 through 2045. 24,000 cases made, 2,400 cases imported.
96 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (May 2025)
#13 - Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2025
The aromas of blackcurrants and dried flowers with fresh herbs like basil and rosemary are extremely attractive. Medium- to full-bodied, this has firm and velvety tannins with a tension and focus that I have not seen for a while. Long and chewy finish. Solid. Drink after 2028 and beyond.
96 points, James Suckling (Jan 2025)
This grand vin from Jean-Michel Laporte is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon with 25% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. It has a nose which is dense, dark, smoky and brooding, laden with dark chocolate, dried red fruits, toast, crushed chalk and tobacco – I cannot remember the last time I encountered a Talbot so seductive and yet also so dark and brooding. The palate follows on in the same character, all dense, dark and energetic, with masses of tannic structure but in a polished, complete and coherent style, wrapping themselves around the palate but never dominating. A huge success for Talbot here, a wine dense with tannin and potential, and this is quite possibly set to be one of the greatest ever vintages from this property. Come back in ten or twenty years to find out. Chapeau! Tasted twice. The alcohol on the label is 13.5%.
96 points, Chris Kissack, Wine Independent (Jun 2025)
Smoky currants, tobacco leaf, leather, and chocolaty notes all define the 2022 Château Talbot, a sensationally textured, concentrated, medium to full-bodied Saint-Julien. It has plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe, building tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, raised in 60% new oak, it's one of the all-time greats from this château and will have three decades of longevity.
95 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2025)
Chewy but restrained tannins, plenty of depth and character, rose bud and peony alongside raspberry and cassis fruits, this is delicious, a great job from this estate, one to look out for, and to have plenty of confidence in its ageing ability.
95 points, Jane Anson (Mar 2025)
Glossy and shiny, with lots of energy to the clean red berry fruit and slightly mineral-edged tannins. Easy to enjoy, this is smooth and round. More direct than overly plush or wide, but with great persistence to a long finish. The purity of the fruit and acidity give this strong appeal even at this early stage.
95 points, Georgie Hindle, Decanter (Dec 2024)
The 2022 Talbot was bottled in May. Estate Director Jean-Michel Laporte commented that he sees it as a combination of 2018, 2019 and 2020, though better than those vintages. The 2022 has a tightly knit bouquet, crisp and clean, a little "cooler" in style than I recall and I mean that in a positive way. It neatly shrugs off the warmth of that growing season. There's wonderful purity of fruit here, tinged with tobacco and light chimney soot scents. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit—a quintessential Talbot, with a little more horsepower than recent vintages but fine precision and structure on the finish. I appreciate the finesse of the tannins and the weight throughout this Saint-Julien.
94 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Feb 2025)