TN So I tried the 2010 Talbot again
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 2:30 pm
For the first time in several years. Just to recap (no, I will not go into a paragraphs-long discussion of the weather during the 2010 growing season), on release this wine seemed very promising and not atypical of Bordeaux, the left bank or St. Julien. Good scale, fairly fresh, well balanced. Definitely something to look forward to.
Last night, I found the wine impressive and a bit surprising. This is a large-scaled wine, there is no doubt about that. But it is not heavy, the scale relates to flavor saturation and how it seems to fill the mouth. The bouquet is alluring and pretty cedary. I give it plus marks. The wine is very drinkable. It's out of the red and blue flavors spectrum and more towards the black, but stops short of figs, liqorice, etc. So that's OK. Here's the thing though, and this is probably a matter of personal taste. This wine seems to have a lot of dry substance in the mouthfeel (weren't "IPTs" "off the charts" generally in this vintage?). It's not super-fluid and round. I think a lot of people will like this, but I think this lacks a little acidity, which in a balanced wine I always attribute that round and mouthwatering sensation to just the right level of acidity. There's still tannin to burn but nothing obtrusive. So while we had no problem knocking out this bottle with dinner I would say it is not the perfect wine for me. But again, I think a lot of people would find this very pleasing. And I certainly liked it and wouldn't be displeased or embarrassed to pour this for company on any occasion.
This wine is definitely open for business. It is in a drinking window. It might not be quite your drinking window. It may enter other drinking windows (like a tertiary one) too.
So, for the price, the name and the vintage I would say this meets expectations. Ten years on I have no regrets. Now, let's see how my experience compares with recent CT notes. Always fun.
Last night, I found the wine impressive and a bit surprising. This is a large-scaled wine, there is no doubt about that. But it is not heavy, the scale relates to flavor saturation and how it seems to fill the mouth. The bouquet is alluring and pretty cedary. I give it plus marks. The wine is very drinkable. It's out of the red and blue flavors spectrum and more towards the black, but stops short of figs, liqorice, etc. So that's OK. Here's the thing though, and this is probably a matter of personal taste. This wine seems to have a lot of dry substance in the mouthfeel (weren't "IPTs" "off the charts" generally in this vintage?). It's not super-fluid and round. I think a lot of people will like this, but I think this lacks a little acidity, which in a balanced wine I always attribute that round and mouthwatering sensation to just the right level of acidity. There's still tannin to burn but nothing obtrusive. So while we had no problem knocking out this bottle with dinner I would say it is not the perfect wine for me. But again, I think a lot of people would find this very pleasing. And I certainly liked it and wouldn't be displeased or embarrassed to pour this for company on any occasion.
This wine is definitely open for business. It is in a drinking window. It might not be quite your drinking window. It may enter other drinking windows (like a tertiary one) too.
So, for the price, the name and the vintage I would say this meets expectations. Ten years on I have no regrets. Now, let's see how my experience compares with recent CT notes. Always fun.