Bordeaux 2013 – St-Julien

Image

For a list of all our articles, see Bordeaux 2013 – a guide to our coverage.

St-Julien produced some smart stuff in 2013, and deserves recognition as an outlier appellation in the vintage. There are likely to be some pretty good value buys, too, so there is (whisper it) some justification for buying en primeur here.

The tasting notes are listed in alphabetical order.

Ch Beychevelle 2013 St-Julien

Opulent fruitiness – brambles and cherry. Modern, sleek and aromatic with a white pepper and sweet spice element. Good persistence – really nicely done. (RH)
Drink
2018
2028
17 +

Ch Branaire-Ducru 2013 St-Julien

Liquorice, aniseed – very savoury and dark. Fruit is quite suppressed – this is very traditional and very successful. Bundles of tannin on the finish. Aristocratic and self-assured. (RH)
Drink
2023
2033
17.5

Ch Ducru-Beaucaillou, La Croix de Beaucaillou 2013 St-Julien

52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. 60% new oak. Baked black fruit on the nose. Rather perfumed on the nose – more Margaux than Margaux, in this year! The fruit has something quite compelling about it on the mid palate – really fine tannins and lovely length. Delicious savoury quality on the finish – loads of personality here. (RH)

13.2%
Drink
2018
2028
17 +

Ch Ducru-Beaucaillou 2013 St-Julien

90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. 100% new oak. Much less expressive than their Croix, but the fruit has a fabulous purity on the palate. Malleable tannins, elegant perfume, soft texture. Tender and balanced. At present, the Croix is more immediate and interesting, but this has plenty of potential. (RH) 13%
Drink
2018
2033
17.5

Ch Gloria 2013 St-Julien

Black cherry jam, vibrant and chewy on the palate. Full of vigour. Shame that the body and length are victim to the 2013 gentleness! Even so, a good, well-made wine. (RH)
Drink
2016
2023
16.5

Ch Gruaud Larose 2013 St-Julien

Strong liquorice scent, black cherry fruit, light body and medium tannins. Very much a middle-of-the-road bordeaux, with a little violet fragrance on the finish. (RH)
Drink
2017
2024
16

Ch Lagrange 2013 St-Julien

Closed nose, very tough palate. Super-traditional style – very restrained and austere. Needs long ageing to resolve the tannins. (RH)
Drink
2023
2038
17 +

Ch Lalande Borie 2013 St-Julien

70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc. 30% new oak. Black cherry, really smooth and sleek. Well-managed tannins, just giving a nice chewy finish. Lots of dark chocolate – but not too bitter. (RH) 13%
Drink
2017
2023
16

Ch Langoa Barton 2013 St-Julien

Smoky, flinty character to the nose. Elegant aromatic quality – plenty of perfume. Pretty firm build, with a long, grippy persistence. Lots to enjoy here. (RH)
Drink
2018
2028
17 +

Ch Léoville Barton 2013 St-Julien

Jammy, rich fruit. Higher than average acidity on the palate. Furry tannins, light body. Not quite balanced. (RH)
Drink
2017
2023
15

Ch Léoville Las Cases, Le Petit Lion 2013 St-Julien

53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc. 20% new oak. Lovely granite sort of aroma, and loads of ripe fruit. Modern but with one foot firmly in the St-Julien soil – really savoury and dry and complex. (RH) 13.1%
Drink
2016
2022
16.5

Ch Léoville Las Cases, Clos du Marquis 2013 St-Julien

73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. 50% new oak. Fruitcake aromas, dense black fruit on the palate. Lacking a bit of body – another wine symptomatic of 2013. The tannins have a lovely texture, and will need some time to soften, but there is not quite enough power for very long life. (RH) 13%
Drink
2020
2028
16.5

Ch Léoville Las Cases 2013 St-Julien

74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot. 85% new oak. Beautifully scented and aromatic. Cassis, plum, attractive oak spicing. Fine, polenta-like tannins that coat the mouth but don’t obstruct the rest of the balance. Lots of substance and depth – even so, a litheness that is far lighter than the most famous vintages. (RH) 13.1%
Drink
2020
2030
17.5 +

Ch Léoville Poyferré 2013 St-Julien

Some burnt-fruit character here. And rather grizzly tannins on the palate. Not exactly very welcoming, and doesn’t quite have the fruit flesh to really stand up to the structure. (RH)
Drink
2018
2028
15.5

Ch Talbot 2013 St-Julien

Very red-fruited nose – unexpected but very attractive. Owes a lot to Pinot Noir, in fact – that pure red-berry flavour. Sweet, creamy oak, very fine tannins. Light but not dilute. Excellent quality of fruit. (RH)
Drink
2016
2028
17 +