Clos du Marquis

Wine Advocate 92: Tasted blind at the Bordeaux 2012 Southwold tasting. The 2012 Clos du Marquis has a very intense bouquet, the more fruit-driven of all the Saint Julien 2012s with layers of black cherries and cranberry fruit, an undercurrent of autumn leaves and cigar box. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition: smooth and very harmonious, quite intense on the entry and yet without that long sustain on the finish. That does not matter too much, because what comes before is very precise and pure, the class of the terroir evident from start to finish. Tasted January 2016.

James Suckling 91-92: This is very tannic and powerful with a full body and intense backbone. Chewy finish. Not up to the Leoville Las Cases level though.

Vinous 91: The 2012 Clos du Marquis has more horsepower on the nose compared to the 2012 Talbot. The fruit is slightly darker, though the oak is well-integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with a lightly spiced entry, granular in texture, a touch of white pepper sprinkled over the red fruit with just a very slight but welcome bitterness on the finish that lends it edge. Tasted twice with consistent notes.

Wine Advocate 92: The 2014 Clos du Marquis, a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, has kept that soupçon of opulence that I observed when this was in barrel; it has layers of blackberry, raspberry coulis, incense and iris emerging from the glass whilst maintaining superb delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip on the entry. Graphite-infused red and black fruit on the front palate whilst the back is adorned with just a hint of blue fruit that lends this a more feminine allure. There is lovely balance here, fresh and focused with a touch of graphite borrowed from over the border in Pauillac. This is an excellent Clos du Marquis that will give 20 years of pleasure.

James Suckling 95: Complex aromas of dried flowers, dark fruits such as currants and plums and then a wet-earth undertone. Wet licorice as well. Full body, firm and silky tannins and an entrancing finish. Tight and polished. Drink in 2022 but hard not to drink now.

Vinous 92: The 2014 Clos du Marquis has an attractive, perfumed bouquet with ample red berry fruit intermixed with wild heather, cedar and light brine aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, very well judged acidity, very cohesive and demonstrating real structure and sophistication towards the finish. This is a sublime Clos du Marquis that should give 20 years of drinking pleasure. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Wine Enthusiast 94: Produced by the winemaking team of Léoville las Cases, this wine comes from a separate part of the estate. The wine, with its dominance of Cabernet Sauvignon, is dense with tannins as well as dark fruit. It is firm, powerful and a very fine wine for long-term aging. Drink from 2024.

Wine Advocate 91-93: The 2021 Clos du Marquis is a lovely wine, offering up aromas of cherries, burning embers, dark berries, loamy soil and truffle, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety wine that's rather deep and serious, reflecting low yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare and a blend dominated by 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 19% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc in supporting roles. Lest anyone underestimate it on the strength of the challenging vintage alone, by the numbers it contains a higher concentration of polyphenols than either the 2019 or 2020 vintages.

James Suckling 95: There’s so much graphite on the nose, with blackcurrants, blueberries and lots of red currants. Full- to medium-bodied with focused and poised fruit and tannins and a long, flavorful, silky finish. Drink after 2026.

Vinous 92: The 2021 Clos du Marquis is a potent, heady wine. Blue fruits, lavender, licorice, pencil shavings and crushed rocks all race across the palate. This is classic Saint-Julien in bearing. A wine of substance and class, Clos du Marquis is quite impressive in this vintage, opening beautifully over time.

Decanter 93: Supple, ample and generous, this is a lovely Clos du Marquis with an intensity and liveliness straight away, the effects of strong selection giving this a concentrated core. Tannins are prominent but fine and velvety, coating the mouth in a chalky, dry texture but ripe not astringent. I love the fruit forwardness and intention here, but this also has tension and linearity, driving in one straight line from start to finish with a vein of minerality underneath - liquorice and graphite giving a saltiness on the tongue. Feels confident and sauve. A blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 19% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc. Yield of 30hL/ha. 3.69pH. Ageing in 50% new barrels.

Wine Advocate 91-93: The 2023 Clos du Marquis is a rather serious, structured wine, evocative of cherries, dark berries and kirsch, framed by a touch of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied and fleshy but structured, it's a taut, concentrated wine that will reward some patience.

James Suckling 95-96: This offers beautiful blackcurrants and blackberries with hints of chocolate and walnuts. Medium- to full-bodied with vivid acidity that adds tension and freshness to the mid-palate. It’s full of life and vibrancy, very fine and polished, and with nicely integrated tannins. Long finish. 56% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 9% cabernet franc. What will be better between 2022 and 2023?