Not to start with the bad news, but with just 10 cases of this 97-point knockout, we suggest adding it to your cart and checking out now.

Tucked deep within Saint-Julien lies a classified growth so small, so secretive, even seasoned Bordeaux buffs might miss it. But it’s starting to generate some serious buzz.

At just 17 hectares of prime gravel soils – mostly next to Beychevelle – Château Saint-Pierre’s complicated history of tangled ownership ensured that for decades it wasn’t just under-the-radar, it was nearly off the map.

Enter Henri Martin. In 1982 he bought a part of the property and began a long mission to restore it to its former glory. Through shrewd purchases, inheritance, and marriage, he and his family have done just that. Starting in 2005 they put serious investment in their vineyards and critics and aficionados took notice. By 2016 they had finished major renovations on the cellar just in time for harvest – culminating in this showstopper of a bottle.

Intense black fruit, smoke, chocolate, leather, tobacco, all wrapped up in chewy but fine tannins, with a muscular but not too heavy frame and sustained generous finish. This 2016 expresses the power that is the hallmark of the vintage while maintaining plenty of freshness and finesse to mature gracefully for decades, building in added layers of complexity.

Small but mighty, the 2016 vintage has put Saint-Pierre in the spotlight!

97 Points – Inside Bordeaux “The most effortlessly brilliant vintage in St Julien, and Saint Pierre is right up there with the best of examples you can find. Smoky and sculpted, still chewy tannins, firm but confident, liqourice and campfire smoke that displays welcome and generosity – makes you want to pull up a chair next to the embers and grab a friend to share it with. The fruits are brambled hedegrow and crumbled blackberry, with touches of bioche and cream, along with bitter chocolate that adds definition. Mineral tingle to the acidities, and another wash of smoke as it opens. 50% new oak, harvest September 29 to October 17. Drink 2026 – 2046.”

96+ Points – Jeb Dunnuck “Coming from 50-year-old vines and a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Château Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) is in the same ballpark as the 2015 yet shows a slightly more elegant, classic feel, which is very much in the style of the vintage. Beautiful notes of crème de cassis, black raspberries, crushed rocks, tobacco, and lead pencil shavings as well as some smoky notes with time in the glass all flow to a deep, full-bodied, concentrated Saint-Julien that has fine tannin, flawless balance and integration, no hard edges, and a great finish. This brilliant wine from winemaker Jean-Louis Triaud will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 25-30 years. Drink 2023 – 2053.

96 Points – James Suckling “This is fantastic, offering lots of fresh tobacco and blackcurrants and undertones of hazelnuts and chocolate. Full-bodied with firm and chewy tannins, yet ever so polished and refined. One of the most structured St. Pierre’s in years. A blend of 73 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 21 per cent merlot and six per cent cabernet franc. Try from 2024.