Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Saint-Pierre offers up warm cassis, redcurrant jelly, baked black berries and Black Forest cake with earth, herbs and meaty hints. Medium-bodied, it has a great core of muscular fruit with a firm and grainy frame and is solidly built, finishing long and layered. The blend is 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, and it was aged in French oak for 14 months, 50% new. About 50% of the total production went into this grand vin, with 80,500 bottles produced.

The 2017 Saint-Pierre was cropped 47hl/ha and matured in 50% new oak. It has a very intense bouquet with black cherries, blueberry and violet aromas, quite Margaux like in style. This is floral and inviting, wonderful delineation and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity and harmony, building nicely with a plush and caressing finish. What a superb Saint-Pierre that will give 20+ years of drinking pleasure. www.vinous.com

Attractive, ripe red and dark berries here with spicy oak. Nicely played. The palate has deep, fleshy blueberries and rich plums and a wealth of supple, pliable tannin.

One of the real gems of the vintage, the 2017 Saint-Pierre is powerful, deep and quite concentrated. Despite its obvious richness, the 2017 has more than enough supporting structure to back it up. Gravel, smoke, tobacco, leather, licorice and spice lead into the potent finish in a muscular, tannic Saint-Julien built for the cellar. This is an outrageously beautiful wine. Tasted three times. - vinous.com, May 2018

Focused, showing red and black currant preserve flavors driving along, with a racy graphite streak. Fresh acidity keeps it all moving through the anise-tinged finish. Should be delightful when released. - James Molesworth, winespectator.com, April 2018

73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc. Glowing crimson. Rather glamorous on the nose, but much lighter and simpler on the palate than the Poyferré 2017 tasted immediately beforehand. Not that much follow through. Very slightly jammy. (JR)

Mid crimson. Dark fruit and a little smoky/charry on the nose along with some sweetness of oak. Dark and savoury on the palate, the tannins fine and already very supple, as if extraction had been light. Just slightly hard on the finish. (JH)

Tasted blind. Deep ruby colour. Tones of rye and toast from generous oak on the nose. The palate follows, with a hefty hit of smoky oak and wood tannin, which for now mask the core of brambly fruits. This needs its two sides to knit together – it is unclear at this stage whether they will. (TP)