Chateau Gloria 2000, St. Julien
Every true wine connaisseur is attracted to Chateau Gloria for that little ‘unclassified’ and ‘mysterious’ temperment. And Chateau Gloria's great quality, which may have exceeded the more prestigious classed growths in St. Julien, attracted some of the even more learned. Of course its character as age-worthy claret always showing those classy cassis notes and secondary bouquet of pencil shavings, herbs and cigar box on the nose, and where the palate is well balanced, loaded with Asian spices, black pepper that gained consistent support.
Owner Henri Martin, a cooper by upbringing, took over the property in 1942 and began purchasing plots of vineyards from classed growth properties such as Gruaud-Larose, Talbot, Lagrange and Léoville-Barton. By the mid-1960s he had 50 hectares spread across the appellation. In 1982 he purchased Château St-Pierre and thus realized his lifetime ambition of owning a Grand Cru Classé property. Henri Martin died in 1991 and Gloria is now run by his son-in-law Jean-Louis Triaud. The wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25%Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. It is aged in a combination of large oak foudres and small oak barrels (50% new). The vines are very old.
