St-Julien 2017: Top wines re-tasted after bottling
There is plenty of classicism to be found among the St-Julien 2017 wines, and those next to the river survived the worst of the frost, says Jane Anson in this summary report with tasting notes on the classified estates.
See all St-Julien 2017 wines re-tasted in bottle
Read Jane Anson’s full Left Bank 2017 in bottle report
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As with Pauillac, very few grapes were lost to frost in the St-Julien 2017 vintage.Estates sitting along the corridor of the Garonne river survived the late spring frosts particularly well, although those set a little further back, such as Lagrange, did more issues.There are many successes here, because St-Julien estates know how to play to elegance and balance in these kind of vintages.Overall, there is plenty of beautiful classicism and precision to be found in this appellation, and alcohols tend to be fairly restrained.
The best Left Bank wines in the Bordeaux 2017 vintage are sappy and mouth-watering. They will only need another five to eight years in bottle, not the full 10 required in years like 2016.
Look out for: Château Ducru Beaucaillou, Château Leoville Poyferré, Château Leoville Barton.
See Jane Anson’s top St-Julien 2017 wines re-tasted in bottle
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Château Léoville Las Cases, St-Julien, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2017
Rich ruby in colour if a little less inky than the 2015, 2016 or 2018. Clear layers of fruit, the nose is one of the...
2017
Château Léoville Las CasesSt-Julien
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, St-Julien, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2017
The 2017 Ducru-Beaucaillou is the first wine of the fantastic vertical tasting held by Bruno Borie. It has both a deep and elegant bouquet of...
2017
Château Ducru-BeaucaillouSt-Julien
Château Léoville Barton, St-Julien, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2017
Brooding with concentrated, rich, dark blackcurrant and berry fruit at the core, fresh acidity and a lick of sage to nose and palate. Assertive tannins...
2017
Château Léoville BartonSt-Julien
Château Saint-Pierre, St-Julien, 4ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2017
Cloves, black pepper, damson, oak swirl and vanilla bean, definitely a more complex and confident nose than many - and the profusion of aromatics adds...
2017
Château Saint-PierreSt-Julien
Château Léoville Poyferré, St-Julien, Bordeaux, France, 2017
Slightly earthy notes on the nose, with brambly fruit coming through on the attack. A real sense of lightness and delicacy, with some attractive brushed...
2017
Château Léoville PoyferréSt-Julien
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou, St-Julien, Bordeaux, France, 2017
A clear step up in richness, polish and texture. 80% new oak at this point. In these kind of vintages though, it is noteworthy that...
2017
Château Ducru-BeaucaillouSt-Julien
Château Beychevelle, St-Julien, 4ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2017
Hawthorn and crushed earth on the nose, with touches of brambled hedgerow berries. I really like this, it has personality, and is showing well even...
2017
Château BeychevelleSt-Julien
