Tasted ex-château and single blind in Southwold. The Château Gloria 2008 has a fresh, well-defined bouquet with tobacco and graphite notes. It is very clean with well-integrated and judicious use of oak. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded black cherry and spice-tinged entry leading to a plush, well-defined finish. This is a well-made Saint Julien that should age well over 10-15 years. Tasted January 2012.

(90-92 pts)
En primeur barrel sample. This is reticent on the nose: earthy, introverted with touches of sandalwood and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied, good weight and acidity, nicely balanced and focused with fresh red-berried fruit, cranberry and red cherry. Nicely poised on the finish, the kind of wine that leaves a smile in your face. Very fine. Tasted April 2009.

A stunning sleeper of the vintage, this beautiful, already irresistible, plum/garnet-colored 2008 is a wine to purchase by the case. It possesses a dense plum/purple color, a glorious perfume of Christmas fruitcake, cedarwood, black currants, jammy cherries and licorice, medium to full body and a silky personality. It will provide both a hedonistic and intellectual turn-on over the next 10-15 years.

(61% cabernet sauvignon, 24% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 9% petit verdot; 40% new oak; 44 hl/ha) Bright ruby. Highly floral aromas of ripe red cherry and sweet licorice. Then spicy, sweet and juicy on the palate, with rather forward flavors of sweet, ripe red fruits complemented by a hint of minerality. Just a trace of dilution on the pretty, long finish.

Tame nose with restrained black-cherry fruit and a bit of granite aroma too. Fine, chalky tannins with just a hint of metallic, ferrous character on the finish. (RH)

Tasted blind. Dark lustrous crimson. Sweet and rich and round though it could do with just a bit more freshness. Fun for relatively early drinking. (JR)