Chateau Gloria 1982 (1x75cl)

A Saint-Julien red from 1982, which means over 40 years in bottle. Saint-Julien is usually the more restrained corner of the left bank, built around Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. At this age the wine is well past its fruit-forward phase and firmly in old-wine territory. Bottles this old vary a lot from one to the next, and we make no promises about condition.

People buy wines like this for a birth year, an anniversary, or a serious collector's gift rather than for a casual Friday. Stand it upright for a couple of days, open it slowly, and be ready to drink it soon after pouring since older wines can fade in the glass. Free delivery in Hong Kong over HK$800, flat HK$80 below that, no minimum order.

Tasting notes

Very old Saint-Julien typically leans savoury rather than fruity: dried fruit, leather, mushroom, tea leaf, with tannins that have largely melted away. Every bottle of this age is different, so go in curious.