Chateau Talbot Saint-Julien 2017 75cl

Bold Bordeaux energy, minus the fuss. Chateau Talbot Saint-Julien 2017 is a dry red from France’s Medoc, built around Cabernet Sauvignon-led structure with Merlot helping round the edges. If you like your reds savoury, dark-fruited, and quietly serious (in a good way), this is the kind of bottle that makes a steak night feel like an occasion.

2017 in Bordeaux delivered freshness and definition, which is exactly what you want in Saint-Julien. You get that classic Left Bank mix of cassis fruit, cedar, and firm but drinkable tannins, meaning it’s satisfying now, and also has the stuffing to keep evolving if you’re patient.

• Appearance: Deep ruby with a garnet edge.
• Nose: Blackcurrant and blackberry first, then cedarwood, tobacco leaf, and a little graphite.
• Palate: Dry, medium to full-bodied, with dark fruit, savoury spice, and Cabernet-style tannins that grip without drying you out.
• Body: Medium to full.
• Finish: Long and structured, with cassis, cedar, and a faint earthy note that keeps you coming back.

Food pairing: Do it with roast lamb and rosemary, ribeye with peppercorn sauce, or a proper mushroom risotto with shaved Parmesan.

This is a great “next step” Bordeaux if you’ve been drinking Napa Cabernet or Aussie Shiraz and want something more savoury and food-friendly. It’s still full-bodied, but the flavour isn’t just fruit, it’s fruit plus the satisfying extras, like cedar, tobacco, and that classic Saint-Julien poise.

Want the best first pour? Give it some air. Pop it in a decanter, or even just pour a glass and let it sit while you cook. Those structured tannins soften up, the fruit gets louder, and the whole thing starts to feel more seamless.

Also, this is the kind of red that rewards the slow evening. One glass turns into two. The second glass tastes better than the first. That’s the point.

Fun Fact: Chateau Talbot is named after John Talbot, an English commander from the 1400s, which is why you’ll sometimes see the estate linked to a very un-French slice of Bordeaux history.