Château Gloria - Saint-Julien 2019

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Superbly located in the commune of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle and surrounded by noble peers, Château Gloria now belongs to Jean-Louis Triaud and his wife, the daughter of Henri Martin, its "creator" (as is Château Saint-Pierre). This property has now completely regained its full potential. Gloria wines have pure fruit and a supple structure, with very fine tannins. They are great classics of the appellation.

Decanter

About wine:

A deep and concentrated nose, full of blackcurrants and ripe black cherries. Great intensity and concentration on the palate, with hints of dark spices, licorice, black pepper, and cinnamon on the edges, all accompanied by layers of juicy and succulent ripe fruit. Without a doubt, a full-bodied and bold wine. Real power here, but elegant and energetic. If you like the gourmet style, this one is excellent. Best enjoyed between 2024 and 2039.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

Typical of Saint-Julien, this wine immediately announces its assertive character with its deep color and fresh, complex bouquet of licorice, mocha, and black fruits. While it starts off smoothly, the palate quickly reveals its full-bodied, rich, sappy texture, backed by very elegant tannins and a beautiful freshness that carries the finish far. 2027-2035

About the estate:

This vineyard, which now covers 50 hectares, was created from scratch in 1942 by one of the great figures of the wine industry, Henri Martin, who for years bought plots of land from grands crus classés in the center of Beychevelle, as well as to the west and north of the appellation. His daughter Françoise and her husband Jean-Louis Triaud, who managed Gloria and all of the Martin estates, handed over control of their properties to their son Jean in 2016.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

After a 2018 vintage that we perceived as a new quest for elegance, 2019 confirms this with a Gloria that is full of charm, flavor, and balance. The structure is fine, the preserved, juicy fruit is delightful, and we find the smoothness that is so characteristic of this vintage.

About the estate:

Patiently built up, plot by plot, in the second half of the 20th century by Henri Martin, Gloria is one of the strongest brands among the Médoc's unclassified wines. This reputation is well deserved, as evidenced by the latest vintages. Always very complete, colorful, and concentrated, the wine has rarely been faulted in the last decade. It ages harmoniously, but the most impatient enthusiasts can enjoy it from the age of five years.

Wine Enthusiast

Vinous

About wine:

Gloria 2019 has an irresistible nose: black fruits, crushed stones, tobacco, and very subtle marine aromas, all beautifully combined. It is perhaps the most precise and well-defined nose among an impressive range of Saint-Julien wines this year. The palate is medium-bodied and opens with liveliness. A touch of soy permeates the black fruits. The finish is fine and wonderfully flavorful. Extraordinary length. Serious. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2027-2060

James Suckling

About wine:

Aromas of sweet berries, cherries, and violets, followed by a medium to full body with creamy, linear tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Tight and structured. Try after 2027.

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

Château Gloria 2019 presents itself beautifully, in the refined, pure, and elegant style of the vintage, with a deeper ruby/purple color and superb aromas of blackcurrant and blue fruits paired with notes of smoked tobacco, cedar, damp earth, and flowers. I love its purity. It is a Saint-Julien in all its quintessence. Medium-bodied to full-bodied and complex, it can be drunk now or cellared for a good twenty years. A must-buy for wine lovers! 2022-2042

Terre de Vins

About wine:

The nose is tight with fresh blackcurrant, hinting at significant density. The attack is very lively from the outset, with acidity carrying this wine but with plenty of substance. The blackcurrant remains, along with some notes of mocha and blood orange. A classic Gloria, a pleasure...