Château Saint-Pierre - Grand Cru Classé 2008

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

The oak notes are exceptionally subtle, with a refined texture and a very precise mouthfeel; the finish features elegant, expected notes of cedar—the quintessential example of a fine Saint-Julien.

About the estate:

This wine, owned by the Triaud family, has ranked among the finest of Saint-Julien in recent vintages, sometimes even surpassing them in quality, thanks to its very old vines—averaging 50 years—ideally situated 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. It is one of the most perfect expressions of the appellation’s originality, at prices that remain accessible.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

In Saint-Pierre, Cabernet Sauvignon was the clear winner in 2008. Unsurprisingly, it accounted for the lion’s share (83%) of the blend. The result speaks for itself: a wine whose deep, vivid garnet color, adorned with black highlights, hints at its robust 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 ensure, however, that it will age gracefully over the next ten years. Pair with a hearty dish, such as venison gigue or partridge with porcini mushrooms.

About the estate:

This historic estate (17th century) has seen its share of hard times, having been completely broken up following several successions. Henri Martin began rebuilding it 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 running the estate, handed it over to their son Jean in 2016.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About wine:

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

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About 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 richness. One of the richest 2008s with the potential for great longevity, it is a sure bet for the vintage. Drink within the next 20 years and beyond.

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 ripeness, is deeply colored, with a refined 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, with the help of cellar master Rémi di Constanzo, have 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.

Wine Enthusiast

About 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 a mouth-watering acidity.