Gloria St-Julien 2020

96 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot). A brilliant wine from a great vintage in St Julien, rich, silky and utterly delicious. Espresso, cocoa, creamy blackberry and cassis, with juicy depths, spellbinding, concentrated and full of charm and character. 45% new oak. Remi di Constanzo technical director. Alcohol 13.5%. Drink: 2030-2050. (11/22/25)"

95 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2020 Gloria is another Saint-Julien with an unapologetically backward nose, yet it has razor-sharp delineation and superb mineralité. It's just tightly coiled at the moment. Very harmonious, the palate is medium-bodied and satiny in texture, with sapid black fruit and a precocious yet beautifully controlled and persistent finish. Outstanding. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Drink: 2030-2065. (Nov 2024)"

95 points Raffaele Vecchione (WinesCritic.com): "Lively and decisive in the sensory profile showing notes of lavender, hibiscus, guaranà, lemon blossom, lime peel and coriander. A lot of cherries dominate the secondary scene and bring character and shine to the matrix. Full bodied, perfectly mature tannins and a solid, centred finale which shows elegance, strength and modernity. Better from 2025. (Feb 2023)"

94 points Georgina Hindle (Decanter): "Tobacco, dark chocolate and scented flowers on the nose - beautiful aromatic display. Ripe and concentrated fruit but with clarity and precision alongside savoury elements of coffee, cola and creamy blackcurrants. Tannins are rich and grippy edged by liquorice and a salty minerality giving St-Julien typicity. Charming with energy and poise. Drinking Window: 2030-2050. (Feb 2023)"

94 points James Suckling: "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. Try from 2026. (12/7/22)"

94 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Showing even better in the bottle than it did in the barrel, this is a stunning vintage for Gloria which kicks off with a gorgeous display of flowers, currants, espresso, tobacco and cedar. The wine is medium-bodied, with ample layers of fresh, vibrant red and black fruits, soft tannins and a savory edge to the elegant, supple finish. If you have not tasted Gloria for a while, this is a great place to start as it competes with many Classified Growths today. Drink from 2025-2045. (Mar 2023)"

93 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Just about a perennial must-buy, the 2020 Château Gloria is another terrific vintage for this Saint-Julien château, 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. Drink: 2027-2047. (3/29/23)"

93 points Wine Spectator: "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. Best from 2026 through 2038. (3/31/23)"

93 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2020 Gloria has a deep garnet-purple color. It rocks up with ready-to-go notes of baked blackberries, warm cassis, and blueberry compote, plus hints of pencil lead, black olives, and clove oil. Medium-bodied, the palate is generous and refreshing, with velvety tannins and a provocative lift on the finish. Alcohol 13.5%. Drink: 2025-2047. (3/12/23)"

93 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2020 Gloria is a very pretty, lifted Saint-Julien. Blood orange, mint, sweet red berry fruit, white pepper and rose petal all grace the 2020. Gloria is a wine of energy and understatement. The 2020 is especially charming. Drink: 2025-2038. (Feb 2023)"

93 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "From Domaines Henri Martin, the 2020 Gloria kicks off with a wealth of dark fruits, notably black plum, blackberry, toast and blackcurrant, with a slightly baked concentration to them. This seems very confident, and the palate is just as convincing, with layers of dark and savoury fruits following the nose, resting on a rich grip of tannins, broad and substantial. It leads into a finish filled with dark and savoury substance, and lingering notes of toast, vanilla and liquorice. A broad, bold and impressive wine which will evolve into something special. The alcohol on the label is 13.5%. (Dec 2022)"