The 2021 Talbot offers up aromas of black fruits, licorice and toasty oak, followed by a medium-bodied palate with a fleshy attack that segues into a concentrated but also somewhat firm, angular palate. It will require a bit of patience.

The 2021 Talbot is promising, exhibiting aromas of wild berries, cherries, cigar wrapper and sweet spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety palate that's bright and seamless, with an enveloping, charming profile despite analytically rather high levels of polyphenols. This is a fine effort that reminds Jean-Michel Laporte of the 2001 vintage in style―though the 2021 will benefit from all the improvements that the last two decades have witnessed at this address. Tasted four times. Of this estate's 110 hectares, occupying one large block, 94 are planted to red varieties. The grand vin consistently derives from the plateau's higher-altitude gravel soils, but other parcels make a contribution in some vintages (Talbot also owns a solitary one-hectare block within the heart of Gruaud Larose that they are reluctant to part with). Historically, the density of plantation at Talbot was always rather low―because it was plowed by oxen rather than by horse, Jean-Michel Laporte speculates―but new plantings these days are at 8,000 vines per hectare, with Merlot being replaced by Cabernet Sauvignon in the deep gravels. In 2006, modernization began, with lower yields, a later harvest and war on Brettanomyces (almost a house signature in the past). Laporte, formerly winemaker of Pomerol's La Conseillante, has continued his predecessor's work and seeks to bring a bit more mid-palate volume to the wine, increasing somewhat the percentage of new oak to 60%.