Chateau Gloria Saint-Julien 2021

Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France

91 JD / 94 JS / 91 WA / 93 NM / 91 AG / 91 Decanter / 91 JA

Chateau Gloria is a classic Saint-Julien, created by Henri Martin and the only one of its kind as this 50-hectare vineyard was put together piece-by-piece over a number of years through the purchase of plots exclusively from grands crus classified in 1855. It is a vineyard covering 50 hectares, with an average vine age of 40 years, spread across three areas, in the middle of Beychevelle and then in the west and the north of the appellation (bordering Pauillac) on soil made up of Gunzian gravel covering a layer of clay and sand.

“The 2021 Gloria, which contains a healthy slug of Petit Verdot (14%), has a clean and pure bouquet with black cherries, bilberry, cedar and crushed violet scents, almost Margaux-like in style. The oak is nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with a graphite-tinged entry. This is quite a "vertical" Gloria, conservative in some ways, yet it does not compensate in terms of precision on the finish, and it feels reassuringly long on the aftertaste. There’s good potential here.” –Neal Martin, Vinous, 94 points!

“I continue to love what this estate does, and their 2021 Château Gloria is certainly worth checking out. Revealing a deep ruby/purple hue to go with ample ripe black cherry and currant fruit, it's medium-bodied, has a plump, round, layered mouthfeel, and solid ripeness in its tobacco, spicy oak, and graphite-driven aromas and flavors. A blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 14% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, this pleasure-bent, balanced, rock-solid 2021 will keep for 10-15 years.”—Jeb Dunnuck, 91 points!

Once the grapes have been picked by hand, the harvest is vinified in the traditional way in heat-regulated stainless-steel vats, in order to produce truly exceptional wines which can be laid down for a long time. The wine then spends 14 months being aged in casks, with an average of 40% of them being replaced every year.