April 17, 2024 - The fruit is getting a bit tired, in my view it's a bit early for that. Also there is a bite to this wine that I think is some form of acidity that is very displeasing. I suspect this bottle is spoiled in some way, but I don't fully understand it. NR because I think there's a flaw, though I'm not sure which one. I'll drink my last one soon.
April 7, 2024 - Like some 2005, this seemed clamped down in the beginning and not talkative. Luckily, some 2 hours of decant did the trick, it opened up and showed multilayered secondary and tertiary notes lying on a bed of smooth tannins, nicely melted and giving it this silky, inky flow of matured Bordeaux. Dark throughout, but deliciously balanced, the wines shows good acidity and rounds out gorgeously in the finish. Good for some 10 more years i would guess with some evolution ahead. But absolutely good to go now.
April 7, 2024 - Respectable. Drink now.
March 11, 2024 - Rough on Day 1, OK on Day 2 but far from Glori(ous). Drink now. Preferably with someone who doesn’t know how a left bank 2005 can taste in top form.
January 12, 2024 - Sort of a MILF that turns out didn't pick up any skill or freak along the way. Drink now, but you prob won't enjoy it unless you like faded wines that are just numb. Bottle seemed fine just dull. Fruit gone, tannins still there, zero secondary notes other than the unpleasant raisiny funk.
November 17, 2023 - Splash decanted off small amount of sediment, drank over several hours. Blackberry, cassis, leather and tobacco. Bit of a scorched note. Medium+ body, tannins resolved, but not quite silky. Comes across a bit brooding and rustic. Still relatively youthful. Drink now with decant.
September 17, 2023 - 13% alcohol. CS 65%, M 25%, CF 5%, PV 5% according to the website, but I am not sure about the proportions 18 years ago; just from tasting I would suspect more M. The cork is above average, both in length and in quality; no wine penetration. Decanted an hour ahead. Dark colour all the way to the rim.
The nose is all dark fruit and ink, with no oak in evidence. Somewhat lighter in the mouth but by no means insubstantial; good grip with a juicy character. Menthol in the finish adds to the feel of freshness.
There are short intervals, not much more than glimpses, when the wine comes across less well, showing either an alcoholic whiff, or a hint of pre oxidation. As a result, I would suggest drinking this wine sooner rather than later.
Not completely harmonious perhaps but still very good.
April 16, 2023 - Tannic and backwards at first. Still young and needed 8+ hours in the decanter to open up. A lovely wine which will be at its best in about five years. Not great QPR at $85, but still enjoyable.
February 19, 2023 - Not really showing secondary flavours yet so still needs a decant or a bit more time.
February 13, 2023 - Chateau Gloria was the selected wine to be served in first class from the late Varig Brazilian Airlines Rio de Janeiro to New York.
Varig is gone, but this wine continues to be a delicious and voluptuous Saint Julien.