SAINT PIERRE 2005

The 2005 Château Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) shows the more structured, dense, powerful style of the vintage while still staying balanced and light on its feet. Ripe black fruits, saddle leather, and savory herbs and spice all define the aromatics and it’s a big, rich, slightly foursquare effort that has tons of character. It will evolve for another 10-15 years. I continue to love what this estate does.

A very beautiful red, with blackberry, licorice and currant on the nose. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and lots of smoke, berry, coffee and dark chocolate flavors on the finish. The best wine from this producer in ages.

Smart consumers should be checking out this estate whose wines have been superb over recent vintages. Under the same ownership as Gloria, it is a classic St.-Julien with sensational concentration and intensity, but more powerful, thick, and muscular than wines such as Ducru Beaucaillou or Beychevelle. The 2005 possesses the vintage’s structured, tannic mouthfeel as well as enormous concentration and massive extract. It exhibits plenty of earthy creme de cassis intermixed with notes of forest floor, licorice, and roasted meats. Backward with huge tannin, full body, and the potential for 3-4 decades of aging, this superb St.-Julien will get even better over the next 10-15 years. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040.