Château Gloria 2022

Violet notes and dark berries define the nose, with light tobacco and a cool fireplace; full-bodied palate, gripping tannins, generous fruit, showing structure, breed, and length; red-fruited, slightly bitter finish.

The 2022 Gloria has turned out beautifully, bursting with aromas of minty blackberries, tobacco leaf and creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, it's seamless and charming, with good balance and a flavorful finish. It's a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot.

A pretty violet note leads off before the core of kirsch, linzer torte and plum sauce starts to yawn awake. Licorice snap and bramble are injected into the finish, along with an apple wood accent. Shows grip and focus. For fans of the gutsy style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2027 through 2038. 17,000 cases made.

A dark, toasted nose full of chocolate and coffee scents. Concentrated yet packed with cool blueberry and cola. Still quite massy, the tannins are to the fore, but they’re fine rather than overly chewy or plush. Nicely controlled with focus and persistence, and still juicy on the finish, which is so appealing. Mint, wet stones and a touch of bitter orange peel at the end.

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Dark and spicy with a generous amount of gourmand fruit. Freshness for balance and fine but firm tannins providing persistence. Smooth texture. As is often the case, punches above its weight. (JL)

The 2022 Gloria has an engaging and complex nose: black fruit, touches of blueberry, welcome estuarine scents, almost seaweed-like. Well defined, and the oak here is neatly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, well judged acidity, gains weight towards the finish but it maintains superb delineation and focus. Excellent. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

The finest vintage of Gloria ever produced pops with its show bouquet of flowers, currants, black cherries, and spice. The wine is medium-bodied, silky, elegant, soft, and polished, with layers of plums and cocoa from start to finish. And you don't need to wait to drink it. Enjoy it young, or age it. Drink from 2026-2042.

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate rim brightening. Orange zest, ripe cherries, some cassis, fine herbal savouriness in the background. Good complexity, red cherries, freshly structured, mineral-salty, delicate chocolate touch on the finish.

Cassis, spicy oak, exotic blue fruits, and chocolate notes all emerge from the 2022 Château Gloria, a concentrated yet beautifully balanced, medium- to full-bodied effort from this team. It has terrific purity, a chalky sense of minerality, ample tannins, and a great finish. The 2022 is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, aged 14 months in barrel. Hide bottles for 4–6 years if you can and enjoy over the following two decades.

Opulent bouquet, dried lilac blossoms and perfumed pipe tobacco. On the palate, straight and taut, with a creamy texture, a tight-knit tannic framework, lively tension and a firm body. In the concentrated, aromatic finish, black-berried contours, dark precious wood and a powdery astringency with delicate, crunchy notes in the background.

Deep plum colour, plenty of tannic grip that delivers poise and a frame that holds the deeply concentrated spices, sandalwood, campfire, cassis, blueberry, eucalyptus and mint. An edge of exuberance without going overboard. In biodynamic conversion. An upscore from En Primeur.

The nose, utterly serene, opens on pure, shimmering red fruit. On the palate, a tender, delicate texture carried by crunchy, sapid red fruits. Fine tannins complete the ensemble, which is approachable from its youth.

A superb bouquet where freshness and fruit take center stage before sharing the scene with notes of fresh wood and spices. On the palate, the wine impresses with its ability to adopt a straight, powerful profile while championing freshness and finesse, with a highly accomplished balance. A juicy, mouthwatering, vigorous and persistent wine that will perform beautifully over the decades to come. Superb!

The nose shows a lovely fine grain, intense and silky, with a touch of power. It reveals notes of vibrant blackcurrant, bright raspberry and, more discreetly, blackberry, combined with hints of tobacco, vanilla, as well as a subtle touch of concentrated blueberry and vanilla. The palate is beautifully handled, supple, fresh, mineral, with a certain verticality, an enveloping feel and some richness. It expresses notes of pulpy blackcurrant, violet and, more lightly, cornflower, combined with hints of nutmeg, cardamom, elegant roasted raspberry, as well as delicate infusion notes. Good length. The tannins are precise and plush. A slight chew on the finish/persistence. A wine that offers minerality, freshness and roundness/richness.

Dark, intense, beautiful purple colour. A very aromatic nose, fine, pure and subtle, with lovely black-fruit notes. Supple on the attack, flavourful mid-palate, with refined texture; the wine gains power on the finish, which is long and sappy. Superb in wrap, melt-in texture and weight. Blend: 50% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot, 6% cabernet franc, 9% petit verdot. Alcohol: 13.99% – pH: 3.81.