2014 Gloria (St-Julien)

The Château Gloria 2014 has a focused, straight-laced bouquet with strict redcurrant and wild strawberry fruit, tightly wound at first but opening with aeration, tobacco and even flint emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, dry tannin, a little chalkiness under those broody black fruit, the foundation of a classic, almost austere finish the nevertheless offers length and sustain. This actually harks back to the fine old Gloria`s of the past, a little rustic perhaps, but a wine that I think will blossom in bottle. This will need to prove itself in bottle. 89-91 points

Unclassified it may be, but Jean-Louis Triaud`s property often produces some of the most profound and well-priced Saint Juliens. That`s the case in 2014 on this inky hued, textured, graphite- and cedarwood-scented blend. The tannins are typically supple and well defined, folded into the texture of the wine. 95 points