The 2005 Chateau Gloria St. Julien is a Bordeaux blend produced by Chateau Gloria in the St. Julien sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This red wine, sealed with a cork and boasting an alcohol content of 13.0%, has garnered significant praise from professional reviewers, with several deeming it one of the best vintages from Chateau Gloria in years.
Wine Spectator's James Suckling awarded the wine a score of 92, noting its "licorice, blackberry, and fresh cèpe on the nose" and describing it as "full and velvety-textured with lots of fruit and a long caressing finish." Suckling concludes that this is "the best Gloria in years," and suggests it will be at its best after 2014.
Jancis Robinson, scoring the wine at 90, complimented its "quite toasty and developed" nose, and described it as "forward and easy." She remarked that the wine is "nicely balanced" with a hint of dark chocolate, making it the favorite in her tasting group.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com also gave it a 90, describing the wine as showing "light ruby with bricking in the color," and highlighted its "earthy, tobacco and cedar chest nose." Leve suggests that the wine is "in a good place today" but could benefit from a few more years to further soften the tannins.
Neal Martin of Neal Martin's Wine Journal echoed the high praise with another score of 92. He described the bouquet as "airy," with "bright brambly red berry fruit, boysenberry and touches of cedar." Martin commended the "grainy tannin" and "convincing austere finish," recommending several more years for further maturation.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, through Robert M. Parker, Jr., also scored the wine at 90. Parker described it as "glorious" and full of "exuberant fruit" with notes of "cedary forest floor, Christmas fruitcake, blackcurrant, and cherry fruit." He praised its dark ruby/purple color and advised drinking it over the next 15 years.
Jane Anson provided the highest score at 95, lauding its "beautiful balanced classic St Julien" characteristics with "earthy, rose petals, tobacco, and liquorice root." She emphasized its drinkability, noting its "energy, tension, and fruit," along with "great aromatics and silky tannins." Anson declared it "at its peak now" but capable of maintaining quality for another decade.
Overall, the 2005 Chateau Gloria St. Julien is a well-regarded Bordeaux blend, praised for its balanced flavors, aromatic complexity, and potential for aging.
