Château Talbot: Every vintage from 2000 to 2017 tasted

Soft, blueberry and brambled autumn fruit – a definite hedgerow feel. This has expectedly soft tannins at this stage, moving into tertiary territory. Certainly an excellent wine for early drinking, with cigar smoke notes, even the dried tobacco leaf. It’s currently at its peak Médoc character, although perhaps it softens too much towards the end. This is elegant and effortless, full of classic St-Julien balance. Aged in 50% new oak. A touch of Cabernet Franc makes up the blend.

Colour-wise this wine has held itself together a little more than the 2000 vintage. The higher acidity could be down to the cooler nights in 2001, and this displays more grip and vibrancy through the palate. It definitely seems to have further to go on the palate – the fruit is black, tight and a little less expressive right now then the 2000. Nevertheless, this is still an extremely classic St-Julien, not hugely generous but with more intense menthol and cold ash notes. Well balanced. Aged in 50% new oak. A touch of Cabernet Franc makes up the blend.

This starts off well, with a cassis fruit expression and some clear lift, however it slides through the mid-palate rather than expanding in the mouth. It’s fairly subdued, the clear tannins still in play with some hints of softening fruits and fallen leaves, but it fades on the finish. Aged in 50% new oak.

This wine has clear indications of a hot year, with some exotic dried fig notes and rich leather. Attractive in many ways, this has a different approach and feel compared to other Talbot vintages, to the extent that I’m not sure you could pick this out in a blind tasting as a wine from St-Julien. It's best for early drinking, to enjoy the fruit and structure while they are still beating. Aged in 50% new oak.

This vintage presents a clear deepening of colour, switching from tertiary to a plump and rich ruby. 2004 was not the easiest vintage in Bordeaux, with some rain over summer, but the harvest was good. It’s classic in style, with menthol, cassis, tobacco and slate notes. There's nothing overly intense, and it’s not the most generous of years – this wine needs food to smooth its rough edges - but the balance and freshness make your mouth water and it’s really coming into its own, those hard, youthful tannins beginning to soften. One to enjoy over a long supper with friends. Aged in 50% new oak.

Once again the 2005 vintage works its magic, and this is a standout wine. Menthol and fresh mint leaf notes are set against liquorice and cassis, with beautifully integrated tannins that retain their bite. It's an absolutely delicious wine full of St-Julien balance and elegance, but also with real depth and concentration. Château Talbot is still a classic rather than an overly powerful St-Julien, even in this vintage. Aged in 50% new oak.

After almost two decades, the dazzling 2006 Talbot is entering its window of maturity. Gorgeous aromatics suck you in and the palate does not disappoint. Alluring cedary nuances add complexity and a ‘not just fruit’ quality to its weighty black fruitiness. Many will find this fresh and poised Talbot perfect for current consumption while others will still find it youthful and wish to cellar it for a few more years to allow for even more evolution. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc.

As is ever the case with these lighter vintages, the oak notes take a greater dominance than usual – here they show caramel sweetness overlaid with cloves and tar. It's attractive, but very much at its sweet spot for drinking. The soft tannins and soft red fruits are dominated by clever work during the ageing process. Less classic than some, drink soon.

Deep in colour, just hitting that 10-year mark. It could begin to be drunk now, but equally it could also stay teetering on the brink for a few more years before opening. It has layers of black fruit and good complexity, with a clear deepening of texture and structure compared to some of the earlier vintages. The 2008 vintage needed to be carefully handled from a technical point of view, something that they have achieved here. I would put Château Talbot alongside Château Branaire-Ducru as two examples of classical St-Julien wine, still old school enough to value well-integrated tannins and a sense of freshness. Not always the best choice to impress, but they are to be enjoyed with company over food.

A hint of brick colour at the edge belies the youthfulness of the gorgeous 2009 Talbot. Succulent black fruit sits on a firm but suave base. Savoury mature nuances peak out, but this beauty has miles to go before it sleeps (apologies to Robert Frost). This poised delight shows the charm of St-Julien.

Rich, vibrant nose. Milk chocolate, cherries and soft floral scents. Bouncy and grippy. A lovely bright aspect but with quite a serious, streamlined core so you get cool, fresh blueberry and tangy raspberry fruit with high acidity married to lean, mineral-edged, straight tannins. Subtle weight and good structure. Flavour goes all the way to a long finish although it's marked by quite a mineral, salty, liquorice edge.

2011 was a classical vintage that was extremely dry, often overshadowed by the two previous years. But this is well balanced with clear intensity – a good wine with plenty of life ahead of it. It shows tight black fruit and graphite notes, as with the 2010 vintage, as well as tightly grained tannins, while some clear spice notes kick in from the mid-palate onwards. It still feels young, and it will be another five years before it will fully soften and assert itself. Aged in 50% new oak.

Scented, plummy bouquet and attractive sweet fruit with plenty of charm. A wine that is uncomplicated but enjoyable to drink.

Here the lovely cedar nose draws you in and leads to an elegant combination of dark fruit and mature, leather-like nuances. The tannins are not as fine as more recent vintages but allow support without being intrusive. Alluring maturity comes out at this decade-old beauty.

The gentle 2015 Talbot shows the charms of claret. Not a powerhouse, it caresses the palette. Its restraint and elegance are the epitome of Talbot. With its mixture of fresh dark fruit accented by a delicate cedar or tobacco-like spice, it’s almost ready. The suave texture of this restrained charmer means that for some, it is ready.

Good intensity and richness with earthy, leafy notes and integrated structure. Cumin, dark chocolate, toasted spice and black fruit provide balance, supported by soft tannins.

Complex aromas of intense blackcurrant, dark cherries, plums and hints of chocolate, violet and leafy notes. Generous and appealing, showing tension and precision with slightly grippy tannins.