Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve: By far the most elegant and, above all, the most focused of recent Talbot wines; seriously built, harmonious, long, and distinguished. 17

Michael Schuster: Mineral and ripe, black-fruit nose; a very nice, balanced Talbot—one of the best for a long time; a rich, fleshy, yet well-defined middleweight, with abundant fruit and very soft tannin; long and even and quite complex to taste, with the plump, smooth-textured, ripe fruit defined by a nice freshness plus a gentle pebbliness and finishing with wonderful length of fruit and subtle spice. Richly fruity rather than fine, but I think this will be absolutely delicious relatively early. Stéphane Derenoncourt’s influence is clear here, and his style of vinification seems to suit Talbot’s particular, round and fruity style of claret. 2016–30. 16/16.5