Château Gloria 2018 Saint-Julien

Château Gloria is an unclassified St-Julien property that produces clarets that equal in quality those from the more prestigious classed growths.

Henri Martin took over the property in 1942 and began purchasing plots of vineyards from classed growth properties such as Gruaud-Larose, Talbot, Lagrange and Léoville-Barton.

By the mid 1960s he had 50 hectares spread across the appellation. In 1982 he purchased Château St-Pierre and thus realised his lifetime ambition of owning a Grand Cru Classé property.

Henri died in 1991 and Gloria is now run by his son-in-law Jean-Louis Triaud.

The wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. It is aged in a combination of large oak foudres and small oak barrels (50% new).

Gloria produces a wine that is typically deep in colour and rich, cassis-laden and cedar-y on the palate.

It’s at its best after about 7-10 years of bottle age, so will need a couple years more to come into its own. If you really need a taste now, make sure to decant and give it a good swirl.