Community Tasting Note
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Triforwine Likes this wine: 92 points
October 23, 2021 - Dark purple core with Crimson rim.
On initial pour undoubtedly st julien aroma but young and mostly closed at first taste.
2 hours in the decanter (or longer) and the wine begins to reveal its potential. Tobacco leaf, cedar, graphite and some mix of dark red and black fruit. Palate opens even more with time in air and medium body somewhat high acidity and fine tannins do block what’s coming in a few years but it’s already very fun to drink and even though the finish is a bit tannic at the end, it is long and not only tannic. If you have a case, try one but give it as much air as possible. Luckily I bought a bunch of this as futures so I was curious to check in on it at the 5 year mark. I think this has the potential to be the best Gloria ever in just a few years and should age very well. Almost no sediment at this stage, just a small dusting of it. I’m pretty sure this will be better than the 82, 09, 10 and 15 and those are all very good vintages of this stuff. I still think gloria is one of the best QPR on the left bank as long as you buy as futures even though not like back in the old days when it was crazy inexpensive. It’s better now and the market knows it. 92++6 people found this helpful 6,459 views
5 Comments
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WineGuyDelMar commented:
10/23/21, 9:00 PM - Even at $50 it’s a steal
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Triforwine commented:
10/24/21, 4:28 AM - WineGuyDelMar-agree with you that it is worth even more than $50 if you really love St. Julien. I believe I got it for $43 as futures (also did the 18 and 19 same way) and I think it might be hard to find the 16 now for less than $60 now so that's why I say buy it every year as future. Even if you are older like me, this one has the advantage of being approachable earlier (like this on at 5 years), is even fun to taste on release and yet it is always best after about 8 years and the best vintages can age for decades. We still have both the 1982 and 1985 which were awesome in their heyday and although more old-school in style and fruit is fading of course, these are still excellent and fun to drink even today. By the way, I didn't mention the 2018 in my recent note on the 2016, but if you look at my note on that one, you'll see that I"m predicting that in a few years, it will likely be even better than the great 2016. Time will tell, I'm looking forward to a post-retirement party in 5-10 years when I get a bunch of people together and do a vertical of all the vintages I have in my cellar: 82-85-09-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19 and any others anyone might have around and wants to show up with!! I am betting on the 09 and 16 to be the winners which is why those are the ones I bought in magnum format. Cheers!!
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WineGuyDelMar commented:
10/24/21, 8:01 AM - Wow…You are a BIG fan of Gloria. I haven’t had it in years but it appears to be making great wine in great vintages at reasonable prices. I may need to backfill some vintages. I like St Emilion and Monbousquet is my favorite to buy in most years for the same reasons you like Gloria. I should buy some 15 Gloria while it is reasonable.
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Triforwine commented:
10/28/21, 3:12 AM - WINEGUYDELMAR
Yes, Gloria for left bank "every day" drinking at a sensible price. Of course, I like the bigger St. Julien wines too. I adore Becheyvelle which I think punches far above its price point and of course the Leovilles and Du Cru and many others. Another great one is St. Pierre. I also love St. Emilion and was a huge fan of Cheval Blanc and Pavie back in the day but those have gone parabolic in prices so I tend to buy Grand Cru Classe "B" like Pavie Macquin and Canon la Gaffeliere for example and in big vintages wines like Tour St. Christophe is proving to be my go to "QPR" on the right bank. I did buy 2015 Monbousquet and have a 2018 to try as well. -
Triforwine commented:
10/28/21, 3:12 AM - WINEGUYDELMAR
Yes, Gloria for left bank "every day" drinking at a sensible price. Of course, I like the bigger St. Julien wines too. I adore Becheyvelle which I think punches far above its price point and of course the Leovilles and Du Cru and many others. Another great one is St. Pierre. I also love St. Emilion and was a huge fan of Cheval Blanc and Pavie back in the day but those have gone parabolic in prices so I tend to buy Grand Cru Classe "B" like Pavie Macquin and Canon la Gaffeliere for example and in big vintages wines like Tour St. Christophe is proving to be my go to "QPR" on the right bank. I did buy 2015 Monbousquet and have a 2018 to try as well.