Château Gloria 2015, St Julien

£69.95 per bottle

ABV 13.5%

Appellation - Saint-Julien

When a wine critic like Neal Martin gives a score of 94 pts and Antonio Galloni 96 pts you have to take note. We had the pleasure of trying this wine during the Bordeaux en primeur tastings a few years ago and even then we thought it was a very good wine, and the 2016 vintage is shaping up to being a very good vintage indeed. Robert Parker Wine Advocate drinking window is from 2020. Having tried the wine again this week we can confirm first-hand that it is drinking extremely well, and has plenty of potential for drinking at a later date as well. Our top tip would be buy a case to enjoy now and a case to drink at a later date, Neal Martin suggests the wine will last until 2060. You will be hard pushed to find a better Bordeaux wine at this price.

Blend:

Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 30%, Petit Verdot 3% and Cabernet Franc 7%.

"The 2016 Gloria is noticeably deeper in color than its peers. It has a charming bouquet of blackberry, briar, brown spices and touches of sandalwood, complex and developing loamy elements with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Quite mineral-driven, leading into a composed, precise finish that indicates careful winemaking from great terroir. Superb. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting."
94/100
Neal Martin, vinous.com, August 2020

"The 2016 Gloria is one of the undisputed stars of this vintage. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2016 possesses tremendous intensity in all of its dimensions. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, menthol, licorice and dried rose petal all add complexity. In 2016 Gloria is a real head-turner. It should be a fabulous value as well. There is not much else to say."
96/100
Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, January 2019