63% cabernet sauvignon 26% merlot 5% cabernet franc 6% petit verdot. 60% new oak. Along with the tremendous Saint Pierre the Gloria embodies all that Saint Julien did right in 2010. The black cherry and blackberry on the nose is complemented by just the right amount of wild herbs and earth offering complexity but balancing the fruit without overpowering it. Massive yet beautifully structured on the palate the tannins are big and silky coating the mouth and carrying the fruit through to a finish that goes on for minutes. Bright acidity provides a lift to the wine and as the tannins subside just a bit over time this is going to be an absolute rock star of a wine. One of the best releases ever from Gloria. Give it a decade and then drink it over the 2-3 decades that follow. Tasted twice.

Deep rich ruby colour, brooding and a little closed on the nose, this is a great wine in both 2009 and 2010, which is not always the case, perhaps because the two vintages needed different skillsets. You can pick either vintage for Gloria though, and this one majors on crayon, campfire, violet flowers, grilled almonds, blackberry, damson and incense.

While still young and reserved (especially immediately on opening), the 2010 Château Gloria is brilliant stuff that blossoms with air. Ripe black fruits, smoky tobacco, chocolate, graphite, and a certain level of minerality that actually reminds me of Ducru-Beaucaillou. With medium to full-bodied richness, a concentrated, structured, yet flawlessly balanced mouthfeel, and a great finish, it's a perfect example of the vintage. Drink bottles any time over the coming 2-3 decades.

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The outstanding Gloria 2010 has a lovely bouquet with ripe blackberry, briary, cedar and tobacco fruit that is very precise. The palate is medium-bodied, the tannins exerting a gentle but insistent grip. This is very well balanced and focused with superbly integrated oak on the satisfying finish. Great out of barrel, great in bottle, this is a Saint Julien that has really upped its game in recent vintages.

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Gloria features notions of cedar, sandalwood and dusty earth with a core of black cherry compote and black berry pie plus wafts of tapenade, truffles and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and lively acid with emboldened flavors and an earth-laced finish.- LPB