CHÂTEAU SAINT PIERRE
2013 4ème Cru Classé Saint Julien
74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc. Quite a classy and concentrated Cabernet fruit, showing a round, blunt weight, supple with fine tannins. Slightly unexpressive, as though the top note is muffled, but feels all here, and the ripe spiced black fruit goes on well on the finish. Rating: 88-89 L&S (Apr 2014)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
This is a solidly made effort in 2013 that could turn out to be outstanding. The final blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, came from yields of 35 hectoliters per hectare, harvested between October 8 and 15. About 54% of the production made it into this wine, which shows a deep, dark, ruby/plum purple color, rich berry fruit intermixed with cedar wood, locally evolved forest floor, incense notes and spice-box. It has a medium-bodied mouth feel and round tannins. The overall impression is a fruit-forward, well-made wine that should drink well for 10-12 years after release. 2014-2026 Rating: 88-90 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Aug 2014)
Deep ruby. Perfumed, deep red and black fruit aromas are complicated by vanilla and sweet spices on the enticing nose. Then more austere on the palate, with mounting tannins camouflaging the red fruit, coffee, leather and smoked meat flavors. Finishes clean and long, but less massive than usual. What this wine has lost in weight this vintage it has gained in balance. Rating: 88-91 Ian d'Agata - Stephen Tanzer website (May 2014)
Black fruits dominate the nose concentrated and the palate quite rich a mix of cassis and black cherry. There is a fresher feel on the back palate slightly lighter but it fills out on the finish with depth of fruit. 2020-30 Rating: 88-92 Derek Smedley MW, www.dereksmedleymw.co.uk (May 2014)
One of a number of St Juliens that have over-performed in 2013, this blend of 74% Cabernet, 18% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc is exotic and stylish, with coffee bean oak, filigree tannins, bright acidity and just the right amount of extraction. 2018-26 Rating: 93 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (May 2014)
(74 Cabernet Sauvignon, 18 Merlot, 8 Cabernet Franc) 50% new oak, 13% alcohol. Quite dry and masculine (as always) and there is some power here, too. The trademark, suave Saint-Pierre fruit is overtaken by the oak though and I can’t see this coming into true equilibrium. I rate this Château and I wish that they had calmed the oak down a bit. It’s an opportunity lost, but this is still an imposing wine. Rating: 16.5+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Apr 2014)
Fairly basic black fruit, light tannins. Easy, smooth, unremarkable. 2016-2023 Rating: 15.5 Richard Hemming MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2014)
Deep colour, ripe smoky cassis nose, good ripeness and clarity of fruit, smoothness and charm to come. Drink: 2018-2028. Rating: 17 Steven Spurrier (Apr 2014)
On the sinewy side, with savory and chalky notes framing the core of plum pit, blood orange and pomegranate. This is cedary on the finish. Might struggle to fill out fully. Rating: 84–87 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2014)
Very good core of raspberry and light walnut character on the palate, with a medium body, light tannins and a fresh finish. A little short. Rating: 87-88 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2014)
The Saint Pierre 2013 has slightly more composed bouquet than the Château Gloria, although it still has a low degree of fruit intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with a salty entry. It still feels a little coarse in the mouth but hopefully the oak will round it out by the time of bottling. Rating: 84-86 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2014)
The 2013 Saint Pierre is wild, gamy and rough around the edges, with only modest depth and complexity. Smoke, black cherries, tobacco and earthiness inform the finish. Today, I don’t see enough depth in the fruit to balance the tannins. Rating: 82-85 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2014)
Château Saint Pierre
St Julien Quatrième cru 1855 At 17ha Château Saint Pierre is the smallest classed growth estate in St Julien. The name is derived from the Baron de Saint-Pierre who owned the estate at the tail end of the 18th Century. He left Saint-Pierre to his two daughters who, after running the estate together for a while, divided Saint-Pierre in two in 1832. The Dutch company, Van den Bussche bought both bits of Saint-Pierre in 1923 and re-united the estate. In 1982, Henri Martin (the man who assembled the Château Gloria from bits of vineyard purchased from various St Julien estates, including Saint-Pierre) bought the estate and he, and his daughter and son-in law Françoise and Jean-Louis Triaudand, have done much to raise the profile of this oft over-looked château. The vineyards are planted to 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with the wines being made at Château Gloria. Although renewed reputation has pushed the price up a little in recent years, Saint-Pierre still represents quite good value for some nicely made darkly coloured St Julien.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those of the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do call us, but see the 'practical notes' below.
Ordering
Prices are per case as listed 'in bond London'.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment from you to buy the wines you order on release, subject to the price being below the upper price of the estimated band on our website. You may also set your own upper price limit, lower or higher than ours. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability. Providing this firm commitment to us effectively gives you priority.
Wines listed on the website (after any pre-orders and allocations have been fulfilled) can be ordered in the usual way via the website order form or by email or telephone 020 7221 1982, always subject to stock remaining.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are contractually binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of the confirmation date, apart from pre-orders which are binding if the release price is below the top estimate or other price you have set.
Invoices are raised at the In Bond price, excluding any duty and VAT which will become payable at the prevailing rates on arrival of the wine if required duty paid.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or credit transfer. We reserve the right to charge 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £1000, orders below this total will be charged £16.50+ VAT when the wine invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery for 2016 Bordeaux primeurs will probably be completed by October 2019, but we make no guarantee as to specific delivery times, and some of the Sauternes may be later.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes) for immediate payment. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option, but do please note that confirmed orders are still binding as above even if the final invoice has not been issued.
When the wine is shipped, unless previously specified we will assume that delivery is to be to bonded storage with Elephant Storage, but in any case, we will contact you requesting any alternative instructions. If you have another bonded delivery address you would like the wine to go to, please tell us at the time of ordering. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue invoices at the rates prevailing at the time for the excise duty (currently £25.98 per case) and the VAT (currently at 20%) on the total of the wine cost and the duty.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the bottle size you want. Even if a wine is only listed in one size, you can order any bottle or case size you want if the property supplies it, but you must order the case/bottle size you require and check that the correct size has been invoiced.
Additional charges are as follows:-
- +£15 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£15 per case of 6 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£35 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£45 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.