2019 Ch Gloria, St-Julien

This is a plush wine that keeps excellent freshness. Subtle cocoa powder and chili chocolate to the ripe currants, berries and graphite. The tannins are quite polished on its full-bodied palate. Structured and quite long. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 34% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Drinkable now, but it will become better in three to four more years. From a vertical tasting at the winery.

956 points James Suckling
 
Another winning velvety texture out of St Julien. You can trace the warmth and generosity of the vintage in the concentration and the ripeness of these blackberry and raspberry fruits but it is so seductive and carefully balanced with a core of freshness and a ton of crushed stone, black chocolate and baked earth adding layers and interest. This should be good value and is a definite buy. So much character and personality, right up there with the best vintages of this property. 40% new oak, 5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Drinking Window 2026 - 2042

94 points Jane Anson 

Deep purple-black colored, the 2019 Gloria comes bounding out of the glass with all the energy of a new puppy, featuring notes of baked plums, black cherry preserves and warm cassis plus hints of spice box, pencil lead, woodsmoke and dried mint. Medium to full-bodied (the alcohol states 14.2%), the palate is packed with juicy black fruit flavors, framed by approachable, ripe, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing pleasantly earthy.

91-93 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown 

The 2019 Gloria continues a strong run of form - those rustic Glorias of the 1970s and 1980s are a distant memory. This has a precise and detailed bouquet that offers blackberry, briary, cedar and light tobacco aromas that gently unfurl in the glass. The palate is very well structured with a lovely citric undercurrent lending freshness and sharpness. This is a nimble Saint-Julien, athletic in build with a sapid finish that urges you back for another sip. Excellent.

93-95 points Neal Martin 

The 2019 Gloria is fabulous. A wine of pure and total seduction, Gloria is so wonderfully inviting. A rush of floral, spice and earthy aromatics make a strong first impression. Pliant and racy on the palate, with striking red berry character, Gloria is incredibly alluring. A healthy dollop (34%) of Merlot gives Gloria its soft contours and open-knit personality, especially compared to its sibling, Saint-Pierre, which is much more Cabernet Sauvignon focused. I won't be surprised if Gloria turns out even better than this note suggests. It is one of the best values in Bordeaux.

91-93 points Antonio Galloni 

Tucked between some of the most famous names in Saint Julien, Château Gloria has always played the role of overachiever, delivering serious Left Bank character without the first growth price tag. Built piece by piece by Henri Martin through the mid 20th century, the estate is a patchwork of prime vineyard parcels, many purchased from classified growth neighbours. Today, under the Martin family, the wines continue to punch well above their weight, combining classic structure with a more approachable, modern polish.

The 2019 vintage is a beauty in Bordeaux, warm and generous but with enough freshness to keep everything in line. Cabernet Sauvignon leads the blend, supported by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a touch of Petit Verdot, all grown on the gravelly soils that give Saint Julien its signature poise and perfume. There is an immediate sense of depth here, with cassis, blackberry and dark cherry layered with cedar, graphite and a gentle tobacco edge. The tannins are ripe and finely woven, giving structure without harshness, while the finish carries that savoury mineral note that keeps drawing you back.

This is a natural partner for proper food. A slow roasted lamb shoulder with rosemary and garlic works beautifully, as does a classic entrecôte with bordelaise sauce. For something a little different, try it with chargrilled eggplant, miso glaze and sesame, where the wine’s structure and savoury edge hold their own against the umami richness.

There is plenty of cellar potential here. It is already drinking well with a decant, but over the next ten to fifteen years it will soften further, developing more cigar box, earth and spice complexity.