Château Saint-Pierre - Grand Cru Classé 2008

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

Very refined woodiness, sophisticated texture, very precise on the palate, with a very noble and expected cedar finish, the archetype of a beautiful Saint-Julien.

About the estate:

This wine, owned by the Triaud family, ranks among the best of Saint-Julien in recent vintages, sometimes even surpassing them in quality, thanks to its very old vines, averaging 50 years old, ideally located in the heart of the village. The wine, which has always been dense, tight and powerful, continues to gain in immediate elegance with each vintage, with better integrated oak and a texture from old vines that rivals that of the grands crus classés seconds, and even the premiers. It is one of the most perfect expressions of the appellation's originality, at prices that are still affordable.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

In Saint-Pierre, Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were the big winners in 2008. Quite logically, they accounted for the lion's share (83%) of the blend. The result is clear to see: a wine with a bright, deep garnet color, adorned with black highlights, heralding its fine structure. The bouquet reveals its great complexity with elegant notes of vanilla, toasted bread, and black fruits. Full-bodied, rich, and perfectly balanced, it is already very pleasant on the palate with its velvety texture. However, its richness, power, and noble, tight tannins ensure that it will age well over the next ten years. For a dish with character, try it with a leg of venison or young partridges with porcini mushrooms.

About the estate:

This old vineyard (17th century) has had its dark moments, having been completely scattered following several inheritances. Henri Martin rebuilt it starting in 1982. The vineyard covers 17 hectares, planted on beautiful gravelly soil resting on a layer of clay and sand. Henri Martin's daughter, Françoise, and her husband Jean-Louis Triaud, who ran the estate, handed it over to their son Jean in 2016.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About wine:

How elegant! Black fruits mingle with spices, blending with the fine tannins of a discreet structure, before a mineral and floral finish. Very classy.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

As I predicted when it was still in the barrel, this superb wine is worth buying by the case. Its opaque ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of graphite, barbecue smoke, blackberry, and blackcurrant. Full-bodied, Saint-Pierre 2008 reveals a high-flying palate, with plenty of viscosity and smoothness. One of the richest 2008 wines with potentially great longevity, it is a sure bet for the vintage. Drink within the next 20 years or more.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

The 2008 vintage, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (83%) of magnificent maturity, is very colorful, with a distinguished expression combining toasted and spicy notes.

About the estate:

This classified growth has long been the least known of the Saint-Julien vineyards. It was bought in 1982 by Henri Martin, owner of the famous cru bourgeois Château Gloria, who restored its terroir to its original state at the time of classification. His daughter Françoise, her husband Jean-Louis Triaud, former president of Girondins de Bordeaux, now assisted by their children, have, with the help of Rémi di Constanzo, the cellar master, transformed the cru in recent years. Equipped with high-performance winemaking tools, it seems to be gaining, vintage after vintage, the little purity that it sometimes lacked.

Wine Enthusiast

About wine:

With its 17 hectares, Saint-Pierre is a small estate for the Médoc region. As refined as the 2008 vintage, it has a lot of style. It is loaded with fruit, firm tannins, and mouthwatering acidity.