Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend

Bright ruby red. A touch green and earthy on the nose. Medium tannins (5.5/10) and medium plus bodied. Notes of unripe cherries and earthiness on the palate with a long finish. This is a baby that needs some time to develop. Give it a few years in the bottle before opening. Drink from 2019 till 2030. (89+)

The 2014 Gloria is a bold, powerful wine. Dark cherry, smoke, licorice, tobacco and underbrush effortlessly fill out its frame. Ample and richly textured, the 2014 offers remarkable depth, power and pure pedigree. Pomegranate, blood orange and iron add further complexity on the finish. This is a superb showing. Tasted two times. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous)

Classic Médoc character. Very aromatic shortly after decanting. On the palate there’s a mid-weight texture that matches perfectly with food.

Intense, brambly black fruit, plum, raspberry jam / baking spice, milk chocolate / smooth but insistent, grippy tannins, with more chocolate on the palate / mineral, spice, violet—well-defines secondary aromas / rugged but distinguished, rustic but defined. Gorgeous as hell.

Just what you would expect from this wine.

Now this ladies and gentleman, is a truly average wine. There’s nothing wrong with it, but I imagine if AI developed a Bordeaux this is what would come out. Weak, standard flavour, short in the mouth and subdued profiles of Szechuan pepper and earl grey tea. Research suggests it needs ‘time’ which is exactly what I say when leaving a casual relationship as mundane as this tastes.

Still quite young and not fully developed. A lot of cherry at first but then dark red fruit flavors come through. Rather tannic though I suppose this will soften with age. I love Gloria wines so this was a test to see if it is case worthy. Will most likely buy more to hold.

The nose is big. There are lots of blackberry, spice, smoke and tobacco flavors. Tight, as expected. Was a taste test as plan to give a couple as gifts. With a good decant, this is enjoyable now but my advice is set it down and let it do its thing. The ‘14 is really undervalued and well priced at around $30-$35, compared to prior years. This vintage is a sleeper for sure.

Great bouquet. Very good. Aftertaste of crisp bacon.

Carmenere notes.