As ever Gloria was one of the stand-out wines of the UGC tasting, more than a match for the more illustrious names in the St Julien commune. Crafted from 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 11% Petit Verdot, this is a big, robust wine, full of character and brooding, muscular dark fruit. It starts with clear, restrained nose of graphite, tobacco and plenty of crisp, dark fruit. The palate is hearty and enjoyable, brimming with a core of salty dark cassis, graphite and stones. Good precision. The tannins are quite chunky, but there’s some nice detail and they seem well integrated. All the components are there for a seriously good value Gloria.