Chateau Gloria

Chateau Gloria did not exist during the 1855 classification, and came into being as the result of Henri Martin’s desire to own a classed growth. Henri was born in 1903, at Chateau Gruaud-Larose, with his grandfather being the maître de chai at the estate, and his father Alfred a cooper at Chateau St-Pierre.

When the owner of St-Pierre, Georges Kappelhoff, died in the early 20^th century, the majority of the estate was sold to the Van den Bussche family, with Alfred only able to buy a small plot and the barrel room he ran his cooperage, which he subsequently sold in 1936.

In 1942 Henri was encouraged to buy 6 hectares in St-Julien, beginning Chateau Gloria, with the name coming from the land where the Martin family built their home. His father Alfred joined him in his venture, purchasing more land starting with a piece of Beychevelle, and over the years growing to 48 hectares from other classed growths.

Reputation of the wine grew, and Henri was a strong proponent of a revised classification, but without success despite his many contributions to the local commune. Henri died in 1991, but not before he realized his dream of owning a classed growth, purchasing Chateau St-Pierre in 1982, and today his son-in-law Jean-Louis Triaud continued to run both estates

The vineyards cover 48 hectares with typical left bank planting of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The wine undergoes a long cuvaison, with temperature controlled fermentation, before ageing for 18 months in oak.

About 20000 cases of the grand vin Chateau Gloria is made each year, with a smaller amount about 4000 cases of second wine Chateau Peymartin made.

I have recently tasted the 2008 vintage and below is my tasting note:

Appearance

Bright and clear, the wine is of deep intensity ruby color, with legs.

Nose

Clean, with medium intensity aromas of black fruit such as blackberry and black cherry, sweet spice of cloves, herbaceous notes of blackcurrant leaf, herbal notes of fennel, pungent spice of pepper and licorice. The wine is youthful.

Palate

Dry with medium acidity, the wine has medium (+) tannin, a bit bitter and grippy in texture. Medium in alcohol, it has full body with medium intensity flavors of black fruit such as black cherry and plum, sweet spice of cloves, vegetal notes of black olive, animal notes of meaty. The wine has a medium finish.

Conclusion

Acceptable quality St-Julien with reasonable concentration, showing fair complexity but the nose is a bit too vegetal and herbal, quite a surprise for a wine from this commune. The palate is in balance with good structure, with fair intensity and a reasonable length on the finish. Overall the wine is also a bit too young to drink now, and can benefit from further ageing of another 1-2 years.