Connétable Talbot 2023

Dark fruit, stony undertones, cherries; juicy on the palate, with silkiness and precision, incredibly balanced, with fine-grained tannins, very good length, saline finish. It makes you crave the Grand Vin.

While I like the nose of camphor, cherry, cassis and plum, the palate comes across a bit astringent, and I get the sense of lesser Merlots included in the second wine. Let's see how it performs from bottle, but being conservative now.

Grilled campfire and vanilla bean aromatics make the body of this wine ripe and welcoming without being overly sweet; it has character and Left Bank typicity, a little short but with plenty to sink into.

A lovely fresh, mineral, spicy nose with a touch of cool dark nuance and good depth. It shows notes of boysenberry, small roasted pulpy red berries, violet and, more subtly, fresh/pulpy blueberry and raspberry, along with a hint of smoke and fresh toastiness. The palate is beautifully juicy, fruity, fresh, mineral and balanced, offering a fresh/mineral backbone, tension, a tangy lift, an infusion-like character and depth, with a touch of cool dark nuance. It reveals notes of juicy/fresh blackberry, juicy/fresh blackcurrant and, more delicately, cornflower, combined with hints of violet, star anise, small roasted juicy red fruits, racy minerality, a hint of small red berries, a subtle almost roasted/ Mediterranean herbs note, fresh mocha and a discreet almost fresh-toasty hint. Lovely freshness and spicy drive, with sapid, flavorful tannins. A subtle saline note lingers on the finish.

A focused red, with generosity to its fleshy-edged plum and boysenberry fruit. Violet and ink gild this version through the finish, which is supported by a graphite edge. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2036. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 18,000 cases made, 700 cases imported.