Appellations

Saint Pierre 2017

St Julien, Fourth Growth

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Tasting Notes

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.

Score: 92 - 95 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 May 2018

The 2017 Saint-Pierre came from a sample taken from a new barrel although the final blend will include half that amount. It was cropped at 46hl/ha from 18 September until around 3 October in a second wave of picking. It has quite an introverted bouquet with broody dark berry fruit, tobacco and graphite, almost Pauillac-like in style. It probably just needs to evolve a little more cohesion. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy, slightly abrasive tannin but a fine line of acidity. There is firmness and density to this Saint-Pierre, weighty in the mouth but I find that it is missing some finesse towards the finish. Like the Gloria, it may well improve during its barrel maturation. A second sample encountered at the end of my tastings was even better and showed immense brightness and energy.

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2045 Date: 01 May 2018

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.

Score: 16 Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2024-2032 Date: 27 April 2018

The deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Saint-Pierre is a little reticent, giving glimpses at warm cassis, baked plums, tobacco and pencil shavings notes with a touch of forest floor. Medium-bodied with a muscular core of sustained black fruit, it has a grainy frame and plenty of freshness, finishing with impressive length. The blend is currently 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc.

Score: 91 - 93 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 27 April 2018

I was able to taste the 2017 Château Saint-Pierre on two separate occasions and this is an undeniably strong effort from this estate as well as for the vintage. A current rough blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc aging in 50% new oak, which accounts for 60% of the production, this inky purple beauty offers up loads of crème de cassis, black raspberry, tobacco leaf, and graphite. While this cuvée can be a touch rustic, it’s all elegance and purity in 2017 and has medium to full-bodied richness, perfectly integrated acidity and ripe, sweet tannin. It’s a beautiful, concentrated wine that’s going to need short-term cellaring and keep for two decades or more.

Score: 93 - 95 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 23 April 2018

This is more layered and impressive than Gloria this year. Full and focused with structure and length.

Score: 92 - 93 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 06 April 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.

Score: 91 - 94 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 04 April 2018

They have done a great job this year of not dipping far below the quality of the last few vintages. The only indications really are in the texture and the more savoury-edged register of the fruit. The tannins are a touch more pulled in on the finish, closing things off just slightly too early. Overall this is a clear success, with punch, personality, juice, fine tannic hold, and notes of bilberry fruits, charcoal and cedar smoke. Very good quality.

Score: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2026-2040 Date: 01 April 2018