A very deep, dark garnet red color. The nose reveals intense notes of cooked fruits, cherry, blackcurrants and wild strawberries with smoked notes. The palate opens softly and gently, with elegant and harmonious tannins. It has a delicate and fresh beautiful structure with a finish promising a great vintage.
Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc
Critical Acclaim
Vinous 95 points-The 2019 Gloria has an intense nose of penetrating blackberry, raspberry, crushed violet and crushed stone aromas. After 20 minutes, this just blossoms in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine acidity and just a touch of espresso and orange peel toward the finish, which remains taught and focused. What a wonderful Gloria! This might actually surpass its sibling, Château St. Pierre, this year. –Neal Martin
Wine Enthusiast 95 points-Under the same ownership as neighboring Château Saint-Pierre, this estate produced a fine, stylish wine that will develop well. The outlines are already there with spice and black currant fruits underling the tannic structure.
James Suckling 94 points-This is poised and elegant with notes of bitter chocolate, crushed walnuts, black peppercorns, blackberries and blackcurrants. It’s medium-bodied with silky tannins and layers of fresh black fruit. Classy.
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points-Just about a perennial must-buy, the 2019 Chateau Gloria is another terrific vintage for this Saint-Julien chateau, which always seems to turn out a fabulous wine that sells for a great price. Sporting a deep purple hue as well as impressive aromatics of ripe blackcurrants, plums, camphor, smoked tobacco, and gravelly earth, it's a wine that blossoms with time in the glass. (I followed this bottle for multiple days.) Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has beautifully polished tannins, outstanding balance, and the more focused style of the vintage. Tasted twice with consistent notes.
Wine Spectator 93 points-Youthfully taut and well-structured, with singed apple wood and licorice root notes holding a core of red currant, dark plum and blackberry fruit in check for now. Reveals a nice racy graphite underpinning on the finish. One for the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
Decanter 92 points-I love the clear depth to the blueberry and blackberry fruit on the nose here, a sense of elegance and glamour. Silky yet with a kick, this is enjoyable with a saltine cracker twist on the finish - an excellent St-Julien, but a little disappointing for this particular estate when considered next to recent vintages.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 92 points-Rich, generous and demonstrative, the 2019 Gloria bursts with aromas of cherries, sweet berries, plum liqueur and cigar wrapper. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and generous, it will offer a broad drinking window.
