Château Saint-Pierre - Grand Cru Classé 2008

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Great finesse in the oak notes, refined texture, very precise on the palate, with a very noble and expected cedar finish—the archetype of a fine Saint-Julien.

About the estate:

This estate, owned by the Triaud family, has ranked among the best of Saint-Julien in recent vintages, sometimes even surpassing them in quality, thanks to its very old vines—averaging 50 years—ideally located in the heart of the village. The wine, which has always been dense, concentrated, and powerful, continues with each vintage to gain in immediate elegance, with better-integrated oak, and always retains the texture of old vines that places it on par with the great classified seconds—and even the first growths—in this regard. It is one of the most perfect expressions of the appellation’s uniqueness, at prices that remain accessible.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

In Saint-Pierre, the Cabernet Sauvignons were the clear winners in 2008. Quite naturally, they accounted for the lion’s share (83%) of the blend. The result speaks for itself: a wine whose vivid, deep garnet color, adorned with black highlights, hints at 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, the palate is already very pleasing with its velvety texture. Its richness, power, and noble, tight tannins, however, ensure it will age gracefully over the next ten years. Pair with a hearty dish, such as venison shank or young partridge with porcini mushrooms.

About the estate:

This historic estate (17th century) went through difficult times, having been completely broken up following several successions. Henri Martin rebuilt it beginning in 1982. The vineyard covers 17 hectares, planted on a beautiful gravel terroir resting on a layer of sandy clay. Henri Martin’s daughter, Françoise, and her husband Jean-Louis Triaud, who had been managing the estate, handed the reins over to their son Jean in 2016.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

What elegance! Dark fruit notes mingle with spices and blend with the fine tannins of a subtle structure, leading to a mineral and floral finish. Pure class.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

As I predicted when it was still in the barrel, this superb wine is one to buy by the case. Its opaque ruby-purple color is followed by aromas of graphite, barbecue smoke, blackberry, and blackcurrant. Full-bodied, the 2008 Saint-Pierre reveals a top-notch palate, with plenty of viscosity and creaminess. One of the richest 2008 vintages, with the potential for great longevity, it is a sure bet for this vintage. Best enjoyed over the next 20 years and beyond.

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

About the wine:

The 2008 vintage, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (83%) of magnificent ripeness, is deeply colored, with a distinguished character that blends toasty and spicy notes.

About the estate:

This classified growth has long been the least well-known in the Saint-Julien vineyards. It was purchased in 1982 by Henri Martin, owner of the famous cru bourgeois Château Gloria, who restored its terroir to the condition it was in at the time of the classification. His daughter Françoise, her husband Jean-Louis Triaud—former president of the Girondins de Bordeaux—and their children, now working alongside them, have, with the help of Rémi di Constanzo, the cellar master, transformed the estate in recent years. Equipped with state-of-the-art winemaking facilities, it seems to be gaining, vintage after vintage, the subtle purity that it sometimes lacked in the past.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

At 17 hectares, Saint-Pierre is a small estate by Médoc standards. As refined as the 2008 vintage, it displays great style. It is rich in fruit, with firm tannins and mouth-watering acidity.