Château Gloria, St-Julien, Bordeaux, France, 2018

Viticulture

Henri Martin’s lifetime achievement was no doubt the creation of Château Gloria. Row by row of vines, parcel by parcel, he patiently and systematically negotiated with his owner friends in the commune of Saint-Julien to buy these various “cru classé” parcels superbly situated on Günzian gravel, which were to eventually make up the Château Gloria estate.

Winemaking

Gloria underwent extensive modernisation in 1991. The winery was entirely renovated and equipped with a conveyor belt from the grape hopper, an ultra-modern destemmer that keeps the grapes whole, new glazed stainless steel temperature-controlled vats, and a system for concentrating the wine by evaporating it in a vacuum. A second ageing cellar was built in 2000, bringing the total capacity up to 2,000 barrels. Following harvest, the wine underwent traditional Bordeaux vinification with careful parcel selection to capture the concentration and ripeness of the exceptional 2018 growing season. The wine was then matured in 60% new French oak barrels, an increase from previous vintages, contributing additional structure, depth and complexity while maintaining balance with the ripe fruit profile.

Tasting Note

A powerful yet refined Saint-Julien, offering expressive aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry and plum layered with notes of cedar, tobacco leaf, graphite and dark chocolate. The palate is full-bodied and beautifully structured, with ripe cassis fruit, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity providing balance and precision. Hints of liquorice, spice and savoury oak add complexity, leading to a long, polished finish. A superb Talbot with both immediate appeal and excellent ageing potential.

Food matching

The traditional partner to roast beef and hearty meat dishes in generalo.