Château Gloria 2001

This elegant, tasty, medium to full-bodied cru bourgeois possesses aromas of cedar wood, black currants, licorice, and a hint of tapenade. With a soft, lovely texture, it will drink well for 7-10 years.

Aromas of blackberry and cherry, with hints of toasted oak. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Delicate, refined and lovely for drinking now. Drink now. 18,330 cases made.

Medium bodied, elegantly styled, with a fresh, cherry and earthy character, the tobacco and cigar box notes add a lot to the wine. Fully mature, this is ready to go.

Bright ruby-garnet color. Reductive, hard-to-access bouquet, with a phenolic, glue-like note and some gamey aromas. Soft on the palate, with red plum and already some early chocolate notes, finishing with a hint of humus; developing rather quickly. Very artisanal on the palate, even turning somewhat dull.

02: Barrel sample (16/20): An idiosyncratic bouquet, slightly sweaty, with a medicinal touch; behind it, blueberry definition and an inky spiciness. On the palate, a slightly wiry astringency, under-ripe blueberries and currants, plus a hint of coffee from the barrique. Overall it shows quite good ageing potential, though the tannins come across a bit hard and bourgeois; it can still improve. 04: Brightening ruby-garnet colour. Reductive, hard-to-approach bouquet; phenolic and glue notes, with a certain gamey character. On the palate, мягk/soft, red plums, already showing first chocolate notes and finishing with a touch of humus. It is likely to develop rather quickly and the flavour will become very artisanal, even a bit dull. 16/20 2006 – 2018

Green, herbal bouquet with leather, wood and toasted notes. Restrained, slightly musty palate with firm tannins. Dry finish. 16/20 2007 - 2020

A touch more vibrancy in the colour than the 2000, with a charge of electricity on the attack but it softens quickly. Still very much on the plateau, ready to drink and enjoy, fresh acidities on the finish giving emphasis on crushed mint leaf and blackberry fruits. Earthy, touch of white truffle and cold ash. 45% new oak. Remi di Constanzo technical director. Harvest October 1 to 8, with a generous yield of 55hl/h.

The wine lacks precision, with animal notes on the nose, but the palate is suave.

Owned by Domaines Henri Martin—like Saint-Pierre in Saint-Julien and Bel Air in Haut-Médoc—this growth has been undergoing a complete revival since Mr Di Costanzo arrived in 2000. The 2001 has evolved nicely since it was offered en primeur. It is better than the 2000! Lower yields and a better marrying of the plots account for the higher quality of the 2001 compared with the 2000. Bordeaux red in colour, of medium to good intensity, it is bright. The nose is fruity with a creamy note. Medium intensity. Supple on the attack, the palate immediately delivers density and plenty of fruit. The wine gains roundness as it develops and finishes juicy, with savoury, well-coated tannins. It’s very good, with a highly pleasing fruit-and-wood interplay. No rigid tannins, as was the case in the past and as is indeed the case in 2000.