2010 St Pierre (St Julien)
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Tasting notes
Deep plum colour, oyster shell salinity on the first nose, a classic signature of 2010 that is quickly followed up by bitter black chocolate and tight liquorice root. Great quality, just a stunning sleek damson and cassis-filled wine but these bristling tannins remain very much in control right now, and I suggest giving it a good few more years before the excellence is truly released. No question in my mind that it is going to storm into the top of St Julien when fully in its drinking window. 50% new oak, 44hl/h yield.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
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.
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.
About the producer
Henri Martin – the ex-cooper that created Ch. Gloria in the 1940s – purchased this Fourth Growth Saint-Julien estate in 1981. Today it is managed by Martin’s granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Vanessa and Jean Triaud.