Château Saint-Pierre Saint-Julien (Grand Cru Classé) 2012

Chateau Saint-Pierre is a property with a long and complicated history. The estate was founded in the 17th century and is classified a 4th Growth in the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux.

The estate was created in the 17th century although a number of legacies subsequently led to it being split up and dispersed. Through a combination of good luck and tenacity, in 1982 Henri Martin who also owns Cru Bourgeois Chateau Gloria, was able to put the estate back together the way it had been in 1855, the year of the famous Classification. Ever since, thanks to the investments made by the owners, Saint-Pierre has been acknowledged by everyone as a perfect representative of the Grands Crus Classés of the prestigious Saint-Julien appellation.

Today the 17 hectares estate sits at the top of the 4ème Cru Classé, and is one of the rare thing in Bordeaux, a truly undervalued wine. The lovely Château is found in the heart of St. Julien, in the village of Beychevelle. Bordered by Gruaud Larose to the west and Ducru-Beaucaillou to the east, the vineyards are wonderfully located on deep gravel soils.

Saint-Pierre itself often displays a wonderfully fragrant, Margaux-like nose, combined with a dense, cassis laden palate like wine from Pauillac.

A soft, somewhat fleshy and opulent style of St.-Julien, this 2012 has a deep ruby/purple color, good minerality, moderate tannin, and a full but more precocious and accessible style than its neighbors such as Léoville Poyferré and Beychevelle. This is more along the lines of the juicy, succulent Talbot, but certainly has aging potential. Two to four years of bottle age is recommended and then consumption over the following two decades.

Award:

95/100 Wine Enthusiast

93/100 Neal Martin's Wine Journal

91/100 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

90/100 Jamessuckling.com