Saint-Pierre - Saint-Julien 2016

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

97

par Jane Anson le 03/02/2022

The most effortlessly brilliant vintage in St Julien, and Saint Pierre is right up there with the best of examples you can find. Smoky and sculpted, still chewy tannins, firm but confident, liqourice and campfire smoke that displays welcome and generosity - makes you want to pull up a chair next to the embers and grab a friend to share it with. The fruits are brambled hedegrow and crumbled blackberry, with touches of bioche and cream, along with bitter chocolate that adds definition. Mineral tingle to the acidities, and another wash of smoke as it opens. 50% new oak, harvest September 29 to October 17.

Vinous

95

par Neal Martin le 13/08/2020

The 2016 Saint-Pierre has an intriguing bouquet of baked black cherries, dark chocolate, espresso and gamy notes, the oak regime more prominent compared to its peers within this Saint-Julien flight. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, and the oak is more assimilated here than on the nose. Nicely detailed and very poised, although there is a touch of dryness right on the finish. I suspect there will be improvement with bottle age. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.

Jancis Robinson

17

par Jancis Robinson le 05/02/2020

Yvesbeck.wine

94

par Yves Beck le 20/03/2019

Rouge grenat aux reflets violets. Le bouquet de Saint-Pierre 2016 est bien typé par son terroir et j'y relève de rafraîchissantes notes fruitées ainsi qu'une touche minérale avec du graphite. Je relève également des notes de café et de chocolat. L'attaque est élégante, friande et fruitée. Au palais le vin est doté de tannins aux grains fins qui forment une belle assise tandis que la structure, plutôt souple, confère de la fraicheur et soutient le caractère aromatique. Finale expressive et persistante où je retrouve la fraîcheur constatée au nez. Un vin qu'il faudra laisser un peu en cave. 2024-2041 94/100

Jeb DUNNUCK

96

par Jeb Dunnuck le 01/03/2019

Coming from 50-year-old vines and a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Château Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) is in the same ballpark as the 2015 yet shows a slightly more elegant, classic feel, which is very much in the style of the vintage. Beautiful notes of crème de cassis, black raspberries, crushed rocks, tobacco, and lead pencil shavings as well as some smoky notes with time in the glass all flow to a deep, full-bodied, concentrated Saint-Julien that has fine tannin, flawless balance and integration, no hard edges, and a great finish. This brilliant wine from winemaker Jean-Louis Triaud will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 25-30 years.

Wine Spectator

94

par James Molesworth le 05/02/2019

This is packed, with a ganache frame wrapping up a dense core of blueberry, black currant, fig and açaí berry reduction flavors that will need time to stretch out. While they do, they'll meld with the warm tar and sweet tobacco notes that line the fruit in spades. In the end, there's a plushness here that is distinct from St.-Julien's typically brambly grip. Best from 2025 through 2040.   –JM

Jamessuckling.com

96

par James Suckling le 04/02/2019

This is fantastic, offering lots of fresh tobacco and blackcurrants and undertones of hazelnuts and chocolate. Full-bodied with firm and chewy tannins, yet ever so polished and refined. One of the most structured St. Pierre’s in years. A blend of 73 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 21 per cent merlot and six per cent cabernet franc. Try from 2024.

Vinous

94

par Neal Martin le 24/01/2019

The 2016 Saint-Pierre has plenty of fruit intensity on the nose but maintains a sense of control and class. Blackberry, briar, cedar and light pencil shaving aromas develop in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, good depth and more substance and vigor than the Gloria. The saline, structured finish exerts impressive grip. A fantastic Saint-Julien.

Vinous

94

par Antonio Galloni le 21/01/2019

The 2016 Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) is a powerful, brooding Saint-Julien. Smoke, game, licorice, menthol and grilled herbs add to a feeling of gravitas and pure power. Huge on the palate, with tremendous depth and exceptional balance, Saint-Pierre is onc again one of the Sleeper wines of the Left Bank. Don't miss it. Tasted two times.

Wine Advocate

94

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 30/11/2018

Aged for 14 months in 50% new and 50% one-year-old French oak and blended of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Saint-Pierre leaps from the glass with exuberant Black Forest cake, blackberry compote and cassis with hints of cigars, earth and violets with a waft of iron ore. Medium-bodied, the palate has a firm frame of grainy tannins with fantastic energy and depth, finishing on a lingering chocolaty note.

Decanter.com

95

par Jane Anson le 31/10/2018

WeinWisser

18

par Tjark Witzgall le 22/05/2017

Sattes Purpur-Granat mit violettem Schimmer. Kompaktes Bouquet, viel Brombeere und Veilchen, dahinterbetörendes Cassis. Am Gaumen fest mit feinsprödiger Textur, hat aber die Reserve, um das auszubalancieren. Im Rückaroma zeigt sich viel blaubeerige Frucht, es fehlen das Fett und die Souplesse vom letzten Jahr, daher geht es hier einen Punkt nach unten.

Bettane & Desseauve

95-96

par Bettane & Desseauve le 03/05/2017

Coloré, puissant, tannin encore un peu raide, on le retrouvera certainement plus abouti en fin d’élevage. Mais c’est le défaut de ces dégustations trop précoces.

Wine Advocate

94-96

par Neal Martin le 02/05/2017

The 2016 Chateau Saint-Pierre is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc picked between 29 September and 3 October for the Merlot and 5-17 October for the Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is matured is 50% new oak. The Cabernet comes through strongly on the nose as you would expect: quite intense black fruit, graphite and just a touch of dried herbs. There is lovely definition and focus on display. The palate is well balanced with grainy tannin, a crisp line of acidity, classic in style in keeping with the style of the vintage with very fine mineralité and tension towards the sprightly finish. It is one of the most Pauillac-like Château Saint-Pierres that I have tasted, a very well crafted, almost understated but sophisticated wine that will age for 20 to 30 years. This is a fantastic Saint Julien that may well rest at the top of my banded score.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

par Jeff Leve le 27/04/2017

Dark, inky ruby in color, this wine is full bodied, concentrated, deep, long and focused. The fruit is precise, fresh and poised. The wine was produced from 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc.

Vinous

91-94

par Antonio Galloni le 26/04/2017

A potential sleeper for the vintage, the 2016 Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) is terrific. Graphite, smoke, spice, crème de cassis and grilled herbs all show a strong Cabernet Sauvignon imprint. That carries through to the wine's structure, where the tannins are firm and incisive yet nicely integrated. Vivid and nuanced, with terrific energy as well as class, the 2016 Saint-Pierre is a winner. Today, it is bold, racy and ripe; if it softens over time, it will be even better than this note suggests. Tasted three times.

matthewjukes.com

17,5

par Matthew Jukes le 25/04/2017

(73 Cabernet Sauvignon, 21 Merlot, 6 Cabernet Franc) | 50% new oak | 13.5% alc. This is a lovely, welcoming Saint-Pierre and while the usual oak onslaught is here to shock the taster, the fruit is robust and noble enough to cope. This is a forceful wine and it is also rather dry on the finish, but knowing this estate as I do, it will even out like clockwork and turn into a nicely perfumed, long, slender wine in time. Perhaps not a great vintage for Saint-Pierre it is, however, a commendable effort. 17.5++

Decanter.com

95

par Jane Anson le 24/04/2017

Structured and measured with grippy tannins, this is a subtle yet extremely successful wine. Fully ripe black fruits are joined by gentle spices that slowly curl up through the palate. These guys have been delivering such a fantastic run of vintages and continue to do so here - for me yet another St-Julien that is clearly better than the 2015. Drinking Window 2027 - 2045

Jancis Robinson

17

par Jancis Robinson le 21/04/2017

Dark purple. Sweet peppery notes on the nose. Very glossy and friendly. Sweet start and then quite chewy. Well put together if a tad inky on the end. Not quite enough density on the finish for perfection. 17-

Wine Enthusiast

92-94

par Roger Voss le 19/04/2017

Barrel Sample. Ripe and fruity while also having just the right amount of structure, this is a concentrated wine. It has depth and fine, elegant acidity, and is likely to be ready from 2026.

Jamessuckling.com

94-95

par James Suckling le 05/04/2017

Blueberry, blackberry and fresh currant-leaf character. Full-bodied, refined, beautiful, dense and tight. Great depth. Best ever.

Wine Spectator

92-95

par James Molesworth le 03/04/2017

Beautifully done, with ample grip but a polished, fresh feel around the core of blueberry, cassis and warm plum flavors. Lovely anise and singed apple wood accents show on the finish.