Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This 2011 boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as copious notes of creme de cassis, incense, lead pencil shavings and perhaps a hint of truffles. Medium to full-bodied with surprising density, impressive purity, decent acidity and serious length, this St.-Julien should easily last for two decades or more.
While the 2011 Saint-Pierre will not make anyone forget the 2009 or 2010, it is an outstanding effort. Yields were somewhat higher than at other estates (42 hectoliters per hectare), and the final blend includes a whopping 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc that came in at 13% natural alcohol. Proprietor Jean-Louis Triaud has been on a qualitative tear with this estate as well as with his much larger property, Gloria.
Barrel Sample: 90-93 Points -
Wine Enthusiast
Ripe and spicy, with delicious open fruit, this wine is rounded yet has a straight line of pure acidity. It has a light touch while showing depth of flavor for the future.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 Points -
James Suckling
Shows aromas and flavors of blueberries and minerals. Medium to full body, with polished tannins and a minerally aftertaste. Reminds me of the 2004.
Barrel Sample: 89-90Points -
Wine Spectator
Offers a good, sappy core of dark plum, blackberry and fig, layered with brambly tannins and smoldering charcoal accents. Mouthwatering acidity lends the finish cut and length, while the dark fruit plays out through the finish. Best from 2017 through 2026.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
An icon of balance and tradition, St. Julien boasts the highest proportion of classed growths in the Médoc. What it lacks in any first growths, it makes up in the rest: five amazing second growth chateaux, two superb third growths and four well-reputed fourth growths. While the actual class rankings set in 1855 (first, second, and so on the fifth) today do not necessarily indicate a score of quality, the classification system is important to understand in the context of Bordeaux history. Today rivalry among the classed chateaux only serves to elevate the appellation overall.
One of its best historically, the estate of Leoville, was the largest in the Médoc in the 18th century, before it was divided into the three second growths known today as Chateau Léoville-Las-Cases, Léoville-Poyferré and Léoville-Barton. Located in the north section, these are stone’s throw from Chateau Latour in Pauillac and share much in common with that well-esteemed estate.
The relatively homogeneous gravelly and rocky top soil on top of clay-limestone subsoil is broken only by a narrow strip of bank on either side of the “jalle,” or stream, that bisects the zone and flows into the Gironde.
St. Julien wines are for those wanting subtlety, balance and consistency in their Bordeaux. Rewarding and persistent, the best among these Bordeaux Blends are full of blueberry, blackberry, cassis, plum, tobacco and licorice. They are intense and complex and finish with fine, velvety tannins.