2025 Chateau Gloria: 'This has got to be the best-value big name in St-Julien'

Only £135/6 bottles in bond

Gloria is a Bordeaux château with an unusual history. It didn't exist at the time of the 1855 classification, but came into being in the twentieth century. It was all down to one man. Henri Martin was born in 1903, at St-Julien Château Gruaud Larose, where his father was cellarmaster. Martin grew up in St-Julien, and came to know the village and its vineyards like the back of his hand. One opportunistic vineyard purchase led to another, and over time, Henri pieced together his own château, which he named Gloria.

Martin bought plots exclusively from 1855-classified estates, mainly Beychevelle, Léoville-Poyferré, Léoville-Barton, Gruaud-Larose, Ducru-Beaucaillou, and Lagrange. The Gloria vineyards lie in three main blocks across St-Julien, north, south and west. They span the diversity of soils within the commune and range from deep gravel to clays, on some extremely good terroir.

Gloria's reputation was well-established within a generation of its appearance. It invariably offers rich fruit structure married to a vital tension, and the 2025 enjoys the beautiful combination of concentration and freshness that defines the vintage. With only classed-growth vineyards to its name and a 2025 release price of £135/6, then as Jane Anson notes in Inside Bordeaux, 'This has got to be the best-value big name in St-Julien'. /NT

Offered subject to remaining unsold. Wines expected to arrive spring 2028.To place an order, click on the wines below or call 020 7638 5998