2010 Château Talbot
Community Tasting Note
englishman's claret wrote:
91 Points
Saturday, October 26, 2013 - Opened side by side with the '09. This is a different wine - more cassis jam and mineral here. A different personality. The '09 is a little dark and just a hint rustic. This is brighter, flinty almost. Less dark notes, less earth. Similar on the palate. More merlot? Where will this go?
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2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (9,401 views)
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Comment posted by Champagneinhand:
9/10/2014 11:39:00 AM - This is the first year Denis Dubordieu's gearing Talbot up, with new equipment, lighted sorting tables and lots of stuff in the wine-making process, that should really bump up Talbot a lot. I will reserve judgement and open up a 2009 and 2010 after 10 years. While these were both great vintages, most times serious upgrades and consultants stuff really shows well in off years. As I love St. Julien, and Talbot in most years I am glad to see this happen. Of course the usual price increase will be noted. I look at the 2003 Talbot and while good for day one, it is not made for the long haul. This is such a big chateau, they really needed this upgrade in equipment and putting the best grapes in the Gran Vin only. I think this will make talbot better in the long run and a wine that ages even better than it has in the past. We shall really see in vintages like 2011 and especially 2012.
I liked your notes. Keep them coming.
Comment posted by englishman's claret:
9/10/2014 1:55:00 PM - Thanks for your kind words! I'm curious to see where these wines go. After such a strong showing in the 1980s, the 90s and 00s didn't produce much interesting Talbot. In that light, I think Dubordieu's involvement was needed and eventually be for the best. I certainly agree with you that time (and weaker vintages) will tell. I love Talbot's rusticity which I think you can probably attribute to their particular strain of brettanomyces. I hope that they won't try too hard to stamp it out in the name of modernization.
Comment posted by Champagneinhand:
9/10/2014 2:27:00 PM - I do agree. I think they changed over to stainless fermentation tanks, like L'Evangile did the same year. Hopefully the will rotate their oak barrels so perhaps that bit of rustic ess willive on, literally. It may take a few years rotation with newer oak to get that back in play but the Grand Vin shod be for the better. Hopefly not too modern. Dubordieu and Derononcourt both seem to use less of a heavy hand than does Michel Rolland. I think they respect the history of the lesser growths a bit better. Talbot was a people's wine much like Langoa and Gruaud were. I hope this remains. Talbot is a place that has a pretty loyal following. When you look at St. Pierre getting almost $199US for a Chateau that has a lousy track record other than '08-2010, Talbot is downright reasonable. I bought 2008 St. Pierre as I've enjoyed some bottles from them but the newer stuff is so much like ACV Elogud it's scary. All about the fruit and Cocoa without the graphite, spice box, leather or funkiness. Yes it's good but I want something a bit different from my 4th growths. Maybe it will just take time for the tertiary notes to kick in. Less bad bottles is always welcomed.