Château Talbot, 4ème Cru Classé, St Julien, 2017

In our opinion, St Julien was the most consistent appellation in the Medoc with many excellent wines. Where chateaux have got it right, there's a gorgeous core of fragrant fruit allied to modest alcohols and a real sense of tension and balance. Talbot was another pleasant surprise. Opening with a glorious bouquet of sandalwood, pencil shavings and cut flowers, this segues neatly to a sleek core of bramble fruit, leafy cassis and plum with suggestions of tobacco, graphite and turned earth. This is a very solid effort, full of charm and concentrated berry fruit with finely integrated tannins. Bravo.