2018 Gloria, St-Julien (Pre-Arrival)
SKU #1407954
93-96 points
Wine Spectator
There's lots here, with raspberry, blackberry, currant and blueberry fruit all playing a role, along with lively briar and licorice snap notes. An apple wood frame keeps the elements in line. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. (JM, Web-2019)
93-94 points
James Suckling
This is a tight and linear red, showing dark berries and blueberries with cedar with flowers. Full-bodied and foursquare. Framed and focused.
(4/2019)
92-94 points
Jeb Dunnuck
Readers looking for an estate on the uptick need to check out the 2018 Château Gloria, which is up with the finest vintages I’ve tasted from this Saint-Julien estate. Deeply colored with terrific cassis and blackberry fruits as well as ample leafy herbs and sappy flower notes, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, has polished, elegant tannins, and a great finish. It’s a juicy, fruit-forward effort with good concentration and lots of class. Drink it over the coming 25 years or more. The blend is currently 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, from a selection of 65% of the total production, that’s currently resting in 40% new French oak.
(5/2019)
92-94 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Gloria is deep garnet-purple colored and gives up expressive notions of warm red and black currants, black cherries and boysenberries with hints of spice cake, cedar chest, pencil lead and menthol. Full-bodied with a firm texture of ripe, grainy tannins, it has a lively line cutting through the dense, savory layers, finishing on a lingering spicy note. (LPB)
(4/2019)
92-94 points
Vinous
The 2018 Gloria is tight at first but soon finds its voice with attractive blackberry, raspberry and light cedar/tobacco aromas. The oak is nicely integrated here. The palate is fresh and focused on the entry, classic in style with tobacco and cedar quite vocal towards the fresh and linear finish. This is a stylish, cerebral Gloria that I suspect will age with style and grace. Excellent. (NM)
(4/2019)
93 points
Decanter
Gloria is fast becoming one of the most exciting insider wines of the entire Bordeaux region, and that rare species of a non-classified St-Julien. The fruit here is brambly, textured and autumnal, and again the alcohol seems generous but balanced, with plenty of St-Julien finesse. It has a feeling of not needing to go too far to convince anyone. This is some austerity here but there's a bounce to the tannins through the mid-palate, while the alcohol is clearly there but not dominant, helped I would expect by relatively generous yields of 46hl/ha. Very good quality. (JA)
(4/2019)
Jancis Robinson
Deepest cherry red. Aromatic black fruit, finely scented without excess sweetness or ripeness. On the palate, flattened a bit by the oak and the tannins, which are compact and layered but dominant at the moment. Should come round once they slim down and unlock the fruit. (JH)
(3/2019)
K&L Notes
91-94 points Antonio Galloni in Vinous: "Gloria is once again fabulous. Brisk and vibrant, the 2018 has so much to offer. The 2018 is a bit more linear than other recent vintages (such as the 2016) but it nevertheless has a lot to offer. Bright red cherry, cedar, tobacco, spice and floral notes pulse with tremendous energy. The tannins need a few years in bottle to unwind, but there is so much to look forward to. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Tasted four times." (4/2019)
