Chateau Saint-Pierre 2018
(Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France) - [TWI 96] [VM 95] [WA 95] [WS 95] [DM 95] [JS 95] [JL 95] [JD 94+] [WE 92]

About the Winery:
Château Saint-Pierre is the smallest Classified Growth in St Julien. It was ranked a Fourth Growth in 1855, but over the next century it was broken up into smaller and smaller parts. It was restored to its original holdings in 1982 by then-owner Henri Martin, proprietor of nearby Château Gloria. Today, his legacy lives on through his son-in-law Jean-Louis Triaud, and Jean-Louis’s own children.

About this Wine:
This 17-hectare estate is undergoing organic conversion and holds HVE-3 certification. Viticulture follows a bespoke mix of techniques picked up from organics and biodynamics, which Jean-Louis calls “our own system”.

There have been advances in the winery, too. Instead of pumping-over once in the morning and once in the afternoon, there are small pump-overs at hourly intervals, working around the clock. Amphorae are already a fixture of the cellar, and Jean-Louis hopes to reach a 50-50 balance between amphorae and the more traditional new French oak barriques.

The 2018 Chateau Saint-Pierre is the grand vin of this Saint-Julien Fourth Growth, part of Domaines Henri Martin. It combines the vintage's ripe fruit and concentration with a firm Cabernet Sauvignon framework.

Vineyard & Blend:
The producer records vines averaging 50 years old, rooted in Gunzian gravel over sandy-clay subsoils. The 2018 blend is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot.

Winemaking:
Fermentation follows traditional methods in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. According to the producer's 2018 technical sheet, maturation lasts 14–16 months in barrels, with 50% new barrels. The wine was bottled in June 2020.

Tasting Profile & Food Pairings:
Dark cherry and blackcurrant fruit are layered with violet, cedar, spice, tobacco and chocolate impressions. The palate is concentrated and structured, with substantial tannins and persistent fruit. Suggested pairings include roast lamb, grilled beef, braised short ribs, venison and mushroom dishes. Cellaring and decanting will help the wine's powerful structure soften.

Ratings & Reviews

96 Points - The Wine Independent:
"Saint-Pierre 2018 has a deep garnet-purple color. It gives up compelling scents of fresh blackcurrants, black cherry compote, and boysenberries, plus touches of star anise, cardamom, and incense, with a waft of wood smoke. Full-bodied, the palate has a plush texture and bags of black fruit, finishing long and fragrant." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Feb 2023)

95 Points – Vinous Media:
“The 2018 Saint-Pierre is even more intense than the Gloria on the nose, actually reminding me of the Léoville Poyferré that I tasted alongside. Copious black cherries, lavender, incense and violet just storm from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit laced with cedar and charcoal. Delivering wonderful delineation and focus and a disarming silky finish, this fulfills the promise that it showed from barrel. An outstanding Saint-Julien that should age well over the next 20-30 years.” – Neal Martin (Jan 2021)

95 Points – Wine Advocate:
"Composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot, the 2018 Saint-Pierre bursts from the glass with a glorious perfume of kirsch, blackcurrant pastilles, black raspberries and cedar chest with hints of red roses, pencil shavings and spice box. The medium to full-bodied palate coats the mouth with velvety tannins and beautifully knit freshness, supporting the generous black and red berry layers, finishing long and perfumed. It needs a good four years for the oak to marry and the fruit to really hit its stride, then should drink a further 20+ years." – Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Mar 2021)

95 Points – Wine Spectator:
“Sports a beam of cassis, plum puree and blackberry sauce running through the middle while roasted applewood, violet and sweet tobacco notes run along the edges. Everything meets and then extends through the finish, with an echo of warm cast iron at the very end. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2038.” – James Molesworth (Mar 2021)

95 Points - Decanter Magazine:
A St-Julien name that I can't recommend highly enough, Château Saint-Pierre 2018 is extremely architectural in feel, a beautiful, confident, masculine, muscled wine with vertical walls - although it's interesting to note it has slightly lower alcohol than some other St-Juliens. It's intense in its black fruit and charcoal character, rippling with tannins. I am full of admiration for this impressive wine that demands your attention." - Jane Anson (Apr 2019)

95 Points – James Suckling:
“Nice plushness from its cocoa powder, cigar box and fresh, slightly tarry fruit. Round and plump, with almost full body and structured but very fine-grained tannins. Long, ripe but balanced and caressing. A blend of 77% cabernet sauvignon and 23% merlot. Drink or hold.” – Zekun Shuai (Aug 2025)

95 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider:
“Deep in color, the wine kicks off with flowers, smoky currants, spice, espresso and cigar box notes. From there, the richly textured dark red fruits provides layers of lusciously textured, fresh berries and toasty oak. Balanced, elegant and fresh, give this some time to fully come together and allow the oak to fully integrate. The wine was produced from 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc.” (Mar 2021)

94+ Points – Jeb Dunnuck:
“With an almost Pauillac-like stature and structure, the 2018 Château Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) (77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot) offers a powerful bouquet of black currants, lead pencil, spicy oak, and chocolate and shows more earth and tobacco as it sits in the glass. Deeply hued, full-bodied, and concentrated, it has a stacked mid-palate, building tannins, and one heck of a great finish. It needs to be forgotten for 7-8 years and will keep for 2-3 decades.” – Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2021)

92 Points – Wine Enthusiast:
“This firm wine shows layers of tannins as well as the warm, rich black fruits typical of the vintage. Black-currant flavors along with the tannins give a dense wine with aging potential. Drink from 2026.” – Roger Voss (May 2021)