Château Talbot, 4ème Cru Classé, St Julien, 2004
A fresh nose of fruit compote, laced with herbs; jammy fruit on the palate with a very pleasant yeasty richness, developing noticeably towards a long and complex finish. Quite delicious.
critic reviews
The 2004 Talbot represents the style of wines predating the arrival of winemaker Jean-Michel Laporte. A little austere on the nose, there are plenty of sous-bois and tobacco scents, but it needs more fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded entry, but overall, compared to its peers, it feels a little monotone and lacks complexity on the finish.
This captures so much about St Julien, with its balance, tobacco leaf, smoked earth, melted tannins, blond tobacco, blackberries and mint. It's delicious, from a time when the yields would have been high, and in a year that struggled to reach full maturity, and yet has a balanced charm that shows why this appellation delivers drinkability even when it misses concentration. The smoke is far more evident when you come back to it after a few hours of tasting other wines, suggest not giving it too long in carafe before drinking. Christian Hostein cellar master, 50% new oak for ageing.
A sumptuous, complex, Provencal-like bouquet of roasted herbs, cherries, licorice, and underbrush emerges from this dark plum/ruby-colored 2004. Tart acidity provides freshness, but the overall impression is of abundant currant and cherry fruit presented in a forward, superficial style. It is best consumed over the next 10-12 years.