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.

From an estate owned by the same family as Chateau Gloria, the inky hued 2017 Chateau Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) is a big, full-bodied, impressive 2017 that has subtle oak as well as lots of cassis, white flowers, burning embers, and charcoal aromas. I love its texture, it has ripe tannins, and it's just a balanced, complete Saint-Julien that will evolve for 20-25 years. This cuvee is 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new oak.

This is a smoky wine, showing considerable wood. Black fruits are a little diminished by the wine's structure and toastiness. It has a stalky aftertaste.