| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The final blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot has resulted in a wine of great power, stature, gravitas and density. The wine has a black purple color and a brilliant nose of scorched earth, creme de cassis, espresso roast, blackberries, truffles and licorice. Full-bodied, extremely powerful, yet with abundant sweet tannin, this stunning effort should prove sensational if given 7-10 years of cellaring. It should also last for 30-40 years.
This is another brilliant wine from Jean-Louis Triaud, who is also responsible for the brilliant resurrection of the cru bourgeois, Gloria. This is one of the smallest estates in St.-Julien, with only about 6,000 cases produced, and even less were produced in 2010 than in 2009.
Two bottles of the 2010 Saint-Pierre were poured, the first just slightly oxidised. The bouquet is comparatively light with blackberry and raspberry aromas, never really quite taking off from the glass like others. The palate is better, much better, with plenty of mineral-rich black fruit, a superb line of acidity and wonderful precision on the finish. I suspect that the fact that we could not decant the second substitute bottle contributed to the slightly subdued aromatics, but I think there is real class here. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. 2023 - 2050
A blackberry and black currants with minerals and full body. Loads going. Juicy red
Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Chateau St Pierre sings of baked black cherries, mulberries and Christmas cake with suggestions of dark chocolate, star anise and cardamom. Full-bodied and firmly textured with ripe, grainy tannins, it has tons of muscular black fruit with lovely freshness lifting the finish. 2020 - 2050
Hard to beat in the lineup - deep rich fruits, so much tension and power still that run right through the palate. Chocolate shavings, tobacco, cigar box, slate, crushed earth, this has depth and concentration but also juice and deftly-spliced fruits. Delicous, elegant but powerful. Barely budges with 30 minutes in the glass, suggesting this really does need longer in bottle or a good 3 or 4 hours in a carafe. 50% new oak, 44hl/h yield.
Tasted 5 Apr: Bright, deep crimson. Very fresh and aromatic. Sweet and rich but only after the freshness of the nose. Very nice for the medium term. Clean and brisk.
Tasted blind 8 Apr: Only mid intensity of crimson. Savoury tobacco-leaf aromas. Great solid whack of fruit intensity on the front palate makes its presence felt in this, the first St-Julien I taste immediately after a run of Haut-Médocs. Very solid indeed. This will need quite a time to resolve itself into a gentle drink as opposed to a half-formed monument. Bone dry.
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot. 50% new oak. This is one of the most improved Estates in all of Bordeaux, Now making a Saint Julien of top quality. Big black fruit here. Strong cassis flavours with toasty new oak. Much more intense and powerful than neighbours Beychevelle and Talbot. A serious "vin de garde".
Although the nose is firm and apparently lacks richness of fruit there is a lot coming out on the palate. Layers of black fruit give complexity cassis backed by slightly firmer black cherry and sloe. The tannins are firm holding back the full fruit expression at this stage.
Dense, smoky rich fruit, succulent flavours over classic structure, fine freshness and strong tannins for the long term, probably the best ever from this rather discreet 4th Growth. Drink 2020-35.
A killer trilogy (2008, 2009 and 2010) has been produced by Saint-Pierre and the 2010 is unquestionably one of the all-time great wines this estate has yet made. A candidate for one of the top wines of this remarkable vintage, it offers a thunderball of fruit, extract, glycerin and intensity. Its black/purple color is accompanied by notes of melted licorice, camphor, blackberries, blueberries, creme de cassis and subtle background oak, amazing concentration, unbelievable opulence and intense, but sweet, well-integrated tannins. Moreover, because of lower pH's and higher total acids across the board in 2010, and despite the high alcohols (this wine's alcohol content must be 14.5+%), the overall impression is one of elegance, freshness and precision. This cuvee reminded me somewhat of a St.-Julien version of another of the superstars of the vintage, the 2010 Pichon Longueville Baron. The 2010 Saint-Pierre should drink well for 30-40 years.
Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. Although the Saint Pierre does not have the same delineation as the Gloria, it offers lovely ripe blackberry and tarry notes that speak of Saint Julien. The palate is medium-bodied with a succulent entry, crisp acidity and a svelte, caressing finish that is very harmonious and long. Very commendable. Tasted November 2012.
Tasted at a negociant, the nose is a little alcoholic, especially compared next to the far more refined Chateau Gloria. This is too heady for me. The palate is medium-bodied with rather angular tannins, powdery in texture, nice purity on the finish with blackberry, pain grille and graphite, long towards the finish. A very fine Saint Pierre, though it pales next to Gloria. Tasted April 2011.
