Château Saint-Pierre 2018

Château Saint-Pierre is a renowned winery located in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Bordeaux region in France. The estate has a long history dating back to 1693 when the vineyard was first planted. It was classified as a fourth growth in the famous 1855 Bordeaux Classification.

During its early days, it went by the name of Serançon and was owned by the De Cheverry family.  Eventually the estate was purchased by Baron Saint Pierre in 1767 and the property’s name was changed to Château Saint-Pierre.  When the Baron passed away, he divided the property into two separate vineyards for two daughters. One vineyard was named Château Saint Pierre Bontemps and the other was named Château Saint Pierre Sevaistre.  The estate was classified as one property, however, earning the title of Fourth Growth during the 1855 Classification.   Not much later, the two properties were subjected to a series of bad vineyard management decisions and they fell into disrepair before being acquired by a Dutch company – the Van den Bussche Company.  The properties were reunited once more and wines from the estate were warmly received by the Belgian market.

In 1982 Henri Martin purchased the estate, and the estate is still in the hands of the Martin family today through inheritance and marriage.  At present, Jean-Louis Triaud runs operations over at Château Saint-Pierre.  He also oversees Château Gloria and some other family properties.  He is also the owner of the Girondins de Bordeaux – a professional football team in Bordeaux.  

The vineyards of Château Saint-Pierre cover 17 hectares and are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc grape varieties. The vineyards are situated on well-drained gravelly soils, which are ideal for producing high-quality wines. The grapes are handpicked and carefully selected before fermentation.

In terms of operations, Château Saint-Pierre was one of the first estates in the Médoc to embrace the usage of satellite imagery to help them identify which parcels to pick.  This 17-hectare vineyard is the smallest classified estate in the Saint Julien appellation.  One can find plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc planted throughout.  The vineyard is divided into four main blocks with parcels spread all over the appellation, and the bulk of vines are not too far from Château Ducru Beaucaillou and Château Beycheville.  The grapes are harvested by hand and transported to Château Gloria for vinification.  The majority of the wines are rich, concentrated, and full-bodied.  Sometimes they are extremely muscular in particular vintages, with a brawny and decadent power that seduces fans of intense and robust reds.  The wines produced at Château Saint-Pierre are known for their elegance, complexity, and aging potential. They are typically full-bodied with rich, dark fruit flavors and a firm structure. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for up to 18 months before being bottled.

"Creamy blackberry and loganberry fruits with touches of brioche, and flaky pastry. Young, needs time, still in the plump early fruit phase, more exuberant than a young Saint Pierre in most vintages, but this will close back up as there are plenty of tannins. I suggest giving it the full ten years to really show just how good this wine is. Layers of bitter chocolate, charcoal, liqourice, grilled cedar, smoked caramel. Great stuff, with a mint leaf finish. 50% new oak, harvest September 20 to October 1." - Jane Anson, (02/03/2022), Ratings: 95

"The 2018 Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) is a powerful, muscular wine. Black cherry, gravel, dark spice, menthol, licorice and espresso add to an impression of brooding intensity. Saint-Pierre was so compelling from barrel. It is all that and more from bottle. The tannins are going to need a number of years to soften, but there is so much to look forward to here. Readers should expect a virile, imposing Saint-Julien." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, (03/31/2021), Ratings: 95

"Composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot, the 2018 Saint-Pierre bursts from the glass with a glorious perfume of kirsch, blackcurrant pastilles, black raspberries and cedar chest with hints of red roses, pencil shavings and spice box. The medium to full-bodied palate coats the mouth with velvety tannins and beautifully knit freshness, supporting the generous black and red berry layers, finishing long and perfumed. It needs a good four years for the oak to marry and the fruit to really hit its stride, then should drink a further 20+ years." - Lisa Perrotti-Nrown, The Wine Advocate, (03/31/2021), Ratings: 95

"The 2018 Saint-Pierre is even more intense than the Gloria on the nose, actually reminding me of the Léoville Poyferré that I tasted alongside. Copious black cherries, lavender, incense and violet just storm from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit laced with cedar and charcoal. Delivering wonderful delineation and focus and a disarming silky finish, this fulfills the promise that it showed from barrel. An outstanding Saint-Julien that should age well over the next 20–30 years." - Neal Martin, Vinous, (03/12/2021), Ratings: 95

"With an almost Pauillac-like stature and structure, the 2018 Château Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) (77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot) offers a powerful bouquet of black currants, lead pencil, spicy oak, and chocolate and shows more earth and tobacco as it sits in the glass. Deeply hued, full-bodied, and concentrated, it has a stacked mid-palate, building tannins, and one heck of a great finish. It needs to be forgotten for 7-8 years and will keep for 2-3 decades." - Jeb Dunnuck, (03/16/2021), Ratings: 94+, Drink: 2028-2058