Chateau Saint Pierre 2016

DECANTER:"This estate is the smallest and least-known cru classé in the St-Julien appellation, with a mere 17 hectares of vineyards with deep gravel soils. Most of these are not far from Beychevelle. This property has a complicated, fragmented history (owned by the same family that owns Gloria) and so was under the radar for decades. Investment in improving the vineyards and cellar began in 2005, and the wines have been over performing since 2014. New cellars debuted in 2016. The 2016 is 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc, and it’s spent 14 months in 50% new and 50% one year barrels. Lush, deep and structured, this brims with energy and aromas of cassis and tobacco."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Coming from 50-year-old vines and a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Château Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) is in the same ballpark as the 2015 yet shows a slightly more elegant, classic feel, which is very much in the style of the vintage. Beautiful notes of crème de cassis, black raspberries, crushed rocks, tobacco, and lead pencil shavings as well as some smoky notes with time in the glass all flow to a deep, full-bodied, concentrated Saint-Julien that has fine tannin, flawless balance and integration, no hard edges, and a great finish. This brilliant wine from winemaker Jean-Louis Triaud will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 25-30 years."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, dezente Randaufhellung, zurückhaltendes dunkles Beerenkonfit, zart tabakig, angenehme Kräuterwürze. Mittlere Komplexität, reife Kirschen, straff und gut anhaltend, salziger Touch, verfügt über Reifepotenzial."

ANTONIO GALLONI: "The 2016 Saint-Pierre has an intriguing bouquet of baked black cherries, dark chocolate, espresso and gamy notes, the oak regime more prominent compared to its peers within this Saint-Julien flight. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, and the oak is more assimilated here than on the nose. Nicely detailed and very poised, although there is a touch of dryness right on the finish. I suspect there will be improvement with bottle age. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This is fantastic, offering lots of fresh tobacco and blackcurrants and undertones of hazelnuts and chocolate. Full-bodied with firm and chewy tannins, yet ever so polished and refined. One of the most structured St. Pierre’s in years. A blend of 73 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 21 per cent merlot and six per cent cabernet franc. Try from 2024."

THE WINEADVOCATE: "Aged for 14 months in 50% new and 50% one-year-old French oak and blended of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Saint-Pierre leaps from the glass with exuberant Black Forest cake, blackberry compote and cassis with hints of cigars, earth and violets with a waft of iron ore. Medium-bodied, the palate has a firm frame of grainy tannins with fantastic energy and depth, finishing on a lingering chocolaty note."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Concentrated, full-bodied and with a touch of oak on the nose and palate the wine has depth, flesh and round tannins, with a nuanced, ripe pit fruit and espresso filled finish."

WEINWISSER: "Sattes Purpur-Granat mit violettem Schimmer. Kompaktes Bouquet, viel Brombeere und Veilchen, dahinter betörendes Cassis. Am Gaumen fest mit feinsprödiger Textur, hat aber die Reserve, um das auszubalancieren. Im Rückaroma zeigt sich viel blaubeerige Frucht, es fehlen das Fett und die Souplesse vom letzten Jahr, daher geht es hier einen Punkt nach unten."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Ripe and fruity while also having just the right amount of structure, this is a concentrated wine. It has depth and fine, elegant acidity, and is likely to be ready from 2026."

WINESPECTATOR: "This is packed, with a ganache frame wrapping up a dense core of blueberry, black currant, fig and açaí berry reduction flavors that will need time to stretch out. While they do, they'll meld with the warm tar and sweet tobacco notes that line the fruit in spades. In the end, there's a plushness here that is distinct from St.-Julien's typically brambly grip. Best from 2025 through 2040."