Château Saint-Pierre 2015

Behind oak notes that haven’t quite integrated yet, one senses an imposing wine—ripe, full-bodied and generous—yet beautifully balanced. This impressive bottle is built for long ageing.

Dark currant, blackberry and boysenberry reduction notes form the core, while a racy, charcoal-edged spine cuts through from start to finish. The long finish smolders with a warm cast-iron accent. Well done. Best from 2022 through 2038. 5,833 cases made.

Saint-Pierre is the smallest of the classed growths in St-Julien, with just 1 ha under vine, and parcels near Ducru-Beaucaillou and Beychevelle. Jean-Louis Triaud directs the property with a sure hand. Elegant blackcurrant aromas and a touch of dried herbs and tobacco. Initially plump and full-bodied, but robust tannins soon kick in and this gains weight on the mid-palate. Sturdy, chocolatey finish, and fine length.

Vivid aromas of currants, mushrooms and dried flowers. Tar. Full-bodied, layered and polished. Shows texture and richness. Juicy and lightly decadent. Drink in 2021.

The 2015 Saint-Pierre has a well-defined and intense bouquet with black cherry, bilberry and light licorice scents that blossom in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, cohesive and persistent, with sapid black fruit and a healthy dash of black pepper that lingers on the aftertaste. The 2015 is a long-term proposition. Tasted blind at the 2015 Bordeaux Ten-Year-On tasting.

Full-bodied, concentrated, round and refined, the wine opens with a nose packed with espresso, licorice, cassis, blackberry and floral notes. The fruit is dense, sweet and ripe. The finish is all about its sweet, ripe, polished core of fruit with smoky and espresso undertones. I really like the energy, refinement and almost lush textures found on the palate here.

Deep ruby with purple reflections and subtle rim brightening. Distinct toasty aromas, subtle blackberry fruit and tobacco nuances. Medium-bodied with a mineral touch, fresh cherry, a lively structure, integrated tannins, lingers, will benefit from further bottle ripening.

This 17-hectare estate has been rejuvenated by owner Jean-Louis Triaud and is certainly producing some of the top wines from the appellation today. I tasted the deep, inky-colored 2015 Château Saint-Pierre twice and it’s reminiscent of the 2010, only with more elegance. In 2015 the wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc and it spent 14 months in 50% new and 50% once-used barrels. Chocolate-covered dark fruits, damp earth, tobacco leaf, and lead-pencil shaving-like notes emerge from this huge, concentrated beauty that has building tannins and a massive mid-palate. It’s an incredible wine that gains with time in the glass, has no hard edges, and is headed for 3–4 decades of life. Bravo!

75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc. Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with violet highlights at the rim. Brilliant bouquet with plenty of cedar, dark fruit and an appealing depth, a clear Cabernet statement on the nose. On the palate, firm and dense yet particularly refined, with brilliant retronasal aromatics. An absolutely gigantic Saint-Pierre. As good as its 2005 and 2009 vintages and therefore at the same score.

THE FIRST HARVEST IN THE NEW CUVIER What is Château Saint Pierre’s main handicap? The estate is far too little known! Only a few wine connoisseurs actually know that this Sleeping Beauty of Saint-Julien is a Quatrième Grand Cru. A cru’s reputation comes from several factors. From the quality delivered so far. In this respect, Saint-Pierre is more than on track. Given its relatively small size for the Médoc—17 hectares—only about 70,000 bottles are produced annually. So these wines are seldom found on the market. But they’re worth seeking out. And if you can’t find them, you simply have to subscribe to the fabulous 2015. With 19 points, it is just as good as its pricier competitors from the same appellation. It was the first harvest in the brand-new cellar. The new facilities allow precise parcel-by-parcel vinification and an even more exacting selection when sorting the grapes. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc. Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with lilac hues at the rim. Brilliant bouquet, lots of cedar, dark fruit and an appealing depth, a clear Cabernet statement on the nose. On the palate, firm, dense, yet particularly refined, with a superb aftertaste. An absolutely gigantic Château Saint Pierre. As good as the 2005 and 2009 vintages and therefore on the same score.

Dense, deep, elegant bouquet with blue and black berries, delicate plum, black cherries, blueberries, tobacco, cedar, nougat. Dense, layered, powerful, elegant palate with plenty of fine tannins, a tightly woven, finely muscular structure, bold dark aromatics, and a very long, fresh finish with plenty of lingering flavors. 19/20 2024 - 2045

The belief at the time that 2014 was better than 2015 in the northern Médoc isn’t being borne out with years in bottle (maybe Montrose!). The 2014 at Saint Pierre is excellent, but 2015 is the one to go for if you’re looking for depth and future potential – it’s packed with nuance and aromatic complexity. 2015 was the year when everything was new at Saint Pierre: a newly renovated and expanded winery, more plot-by-plot vinification with tanks ranging from 78hl to 135hl, a vertical press replacing the pneumatic press, plus an expanded barrel cellar that allowed more than half of the press wine to be aged separately in barrel before being added to the blend. 50% new oak for ageing, harvest from September 21 to October 7, Eric Boissenot consultant.

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2015 Saint-Pierre is still very youthful and a tad closed on the nose, offering scents of cedar, redcurrant preserves, and ripe blackcurrants, plus hints of rose oil and cloves. The medium-bodied palate is taut with tight-knit black fruits, framed by firm tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and spicy.

It has improved further since its character was clarified. One of the densest, most energetic, and most promising wines of the vintage. A great future ahead.

Deep color with purple highlights. Beautiful nose of red fruits. The wine is supple, charming, and silky, with a very elegant mid-palate and real depth. A very elegant great wine that ranks among the best of its appellation.

Garnet red with purple highlights. An expressive bouquet marked by fruity and floral notes. These characteristics are echoed on the palate and are underscored by a structure that brings freshness and breed. The tannins try to keep up, but they are clearly challenged by the acidity. A surprising, compact, youthful, racy wine. I think it still has quite a lot to tell us. To be continued.

Dark, intense, beautiful, and deep color. Superb, delicate nose with fruity and smoky notes. On the palate, it’s the miracle of a melting, finely pulpy body paired with a very fresh, classic aroma. The wine finishes juicy, long, complex, and noble. It’s very good.

This wine has a very toasty style, with spice and wood tannins that give an extracted character with some bitterness. That contrasts with the fruit that is developing, and it seems that the wood will integrate over time. Drink from 2025.