Clos du Marquis

Description

The name of Clos du Marquis, created in 1902, was inspired by the Petit Clos adjacent to the Château de Léoville, residence of the Marquis de Las Cases. The Clos du Marquis is produced from top terroirs of the Saint-Julien Appellation that were not exclusively part of the old Domaine de Léoville cadastre. These terroirs are located slightly to the west and are surrounded by prestigious Classified Growths, particularly Seconds Crus Classés of Saint-Julien and Pauillac : Léoville Poyferré, Léoville Barton, Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande... The Clos du Marquis offers a fine expression of the Saint-Julien character : structure, complexity, harmony, distinction and ageing potential.

2020

WA 93+: The 2020 Clos du Marquis wafts from the glass with aromas of rich berries, cherries, orange zest, pencil shavings and crushed mint. Medium to full-bodied, rich and velvety, with a sweet core of fruit, lively acids and powdery tannins that assert themselves on the youthfully firm finish, it's a serious wine that will require and reward patience.

JS 95: Perfumed with currant, crushed stone, and minerals. Graphite, too. Medium-bodied, very fine and racy. Lead pencil. Very integrated. Needs time to open and show its true self. Sweet tobacco at the end. 61% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cabernet franc and 33% merlot. Better after 2028.

2008

AG 90: I find this fresh and balanced, sporting just the right amount of dryness on the cassis-driven finish that balanced with the fruit, lending it a “breezy” and unassuming character that suits it down to the ground. Enjoy this over the next decade...

2005

WA 91: The superb second wine, the 2005 Clos du Marquis, reflects the utter brilliance of the 2005 grand vin. It boasts an inky/ruby/purple color along with a sweet perfume of lead pencil, ripe cherries and black currants, and hints of earth and vanillin. Dense, chewy, fleshy, and full-bodied, this beauty will be drinkable in 3-4 years, and should keep for 15-20.
JS 92: Musty and mushroomy, with red fruit chasers on the nose and palate. Round and fruity, but still needs three years. Pull the cork in 2013.