2009 Connetable de Talbot

Tasted at the château. A blend of 45% Merlot and 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, this has an agreeable nose with tightly wound black fruits, just a hint of soy and Asian spices. The palate is medium-bodied, the tannins a little obtrusive at the moment, one of the few 2009s that comes across as austere towards the finish but maybe it will mellow out by the time of bottling. Tasted March 2010

Neal Martin    Score: 85-87/100