2015 Chateau du Glana Saint-Julien Bordeaux 750 ml

We love Bordeaux, that's no secret. But we really love drinking Bordeaux when it's $39 and packs the punch of $100+ icons we know so well. 

Château du Glana is that wine. A classic Saint-Julien in all but price, it showcases Bordeaux’s signature style by combining elegance, minerality, and power in a harmony that only arises when impeccable terroir, expert winemaking, and a great vintage align. 

Flanked by classed-growth, critic-favorite estates Château Ducru-Beaucaillou ($248), Château Léoville Barton ($142), and Château Beychevelle ($150), Château du Glana flies under the radar thanks to a historical anomaly that we never take for granted when stocking up on top vintage Bordeaux. 

Established just 15 years after the 1855 Classification, Château du Glana was never classified alongside the Bordeaux greats, though its vines come directly from Wine Access favorite Château Saint-Pierre and third-growth Château Lagrange.

Timing truly is everything: Had the estate been founded a few years earlier, this 2015 could easily be selling for $139 instead of $39. Today time is of the essence yet again: We only have 42 cases of this remarkable Saint-Julien to share with Wine Access Bordeaux devotees.

Though it escaped the legendary classification, Glana has been a standout from the start, even earning a spot among the 1870 Route des Grand Vins with its original vines. For the past 50 years the estate has been catching up to its neighbors in quality, but fortunately not in price.

Château du Glana took the incredible 2015 vintage and nailed it, creating a Bordeaux reminiscent of the great classics from iconic vintages like 1982, 1990, and 2005. It is indicative of Saint-Julien’s unique riverfront terroir from start to finish: beautifully integrated cassis, currant, and subtle red flowers play nicely with savory flavors of cedar and fresh herbs. The tannins are tightly packed yet incredibly elegant. Firm and full-bodied now, we eagerly look forward to drinking this over the next 10-15 years. 

Even the critics have begun to take notice of Château du Glana’s expertise, with Decanter noting the 2015’s, “elegant balanced signature,” and “affordable prices.” Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate also chimed in on the wine’s long finish and excellent structure—rare praise for a sub-$50 wine.

Sourced from 25-year-old vines that sit atop Saint-Julien’s signature gravel soils, the 2015 Château du Glana is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, a ratio that lends the wine its firm, cellar-worthy tannins in tandem with a suede texture on the palate and a decadent cassis-meets-plum core. After fermentation, the estate’s signature wine sees 24 months in French oak (40% new), which lends the wine its cedar aromatics and undertones of baking spice. 

In a dynamite vintage like 2015, when Mother Nature and expert winemaking collaborated, there’s no better value in Bordeaux. Now that the critics have caught on, we expect Glana’s price to catch up. Don’t wait.