Clos du Marquis 2017

St Julien, Second wine

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Tasting Notes

The 2017 Clos du Marquis was cropped at 37hl/ha between 15 September and 4 October during an overall 15 days of actual picking. It is matured in 55% new oak and includes 6.2% vin de presse from 25 different lots. It has a more backward, tightly wound bouquet than I was expecting but it opens up with time. And wow, give it 10 minutes and that estuarine saline scent feels quite pungent. There is impressive density imbued into this Clos du Marquis, if not the detail, the precision of last year’s wine. There is plenty of “rondeur” towards the finish with a pleasant saltiness flanked by a hint of salted liquorice on the finish.

Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2036 Date: 01 May 2018

The 2017 Clos du Marquis is fresh, lifted and wonderfully energetic, and yet also has quite a bit of textural depth. The flavors really sizzle in this highly expressive Saint-Julien from Hubert Delon. There is a sense of energy and tension to the 2017 that is impossible to miss. Much of that is attributable to the Cabernet Sauvignon that is the core of the wine this year. Floral notes reappear on the finish, adding lift to the creamy, layered finish. I can’t wait to taste it from bottle.

Score: 90 - 93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 May 2018

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored and composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Clos du Marquis gives up gorgeous notions of crushed plums, blackberries and cassis with hints of chocolate box, pencil lead, menthol and lavender. The palate is medium-bodied, very finely crafted and refreshing with firm yet fine-grained tannins, great intensity and a long, mineral-laced finish.

Score: 91 - 93 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 27 April 2018

Deepest crimson with black core. Gorgeous dark fruit, with savoury/graphite as counterpoint to the cassis. A hint of oak char but at the right level for harmony at this point. Benchmark Cabernet flavours, pure and refined and fresh. Very precise fruit, long. Firm but dry. Smooth, deep texture and excellent freshness.

Score: 17 Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2025-2035 Date: 27 April 2018

Made from 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and a splash of Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Clos du Marquis is another beauty from the team at Leoville Las Cases. Offering a deep, concentrated, yet rounded style, as well as terrific ripe fruits, forest floor, and tobacco aromatics, it has a great mid-palate and building tannin, all while staying in the more forward, charming style of the vintage. Give it a few years and enjoy over the following two decades.

Score: 91 - 94 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 23 April 2018

Firm and silky wine with very pretty dark-berry and cherry character with currant undertones. Pure quality of fruit is serious. Very salty on the finish. Bright acidity, too.

Score: 93 - 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 06 April 2018

Blueberry, blackberry and plum fruit is lined with graphite, anise and sweet tobacco notes. There's juicy energy and a nice bramble hint at the very end. Has purity and typicity. Well done.

Score: 91 - 94 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 04 April 2018

This takes its time, has a fairly hefty structure and unfurls at its own pace. The last day of harvest was 4 October, but the overall growth cycle was early so they were able to wait for full ripeness, and even though the fruit flavours are savoury, they are intense. It certainly has some bounce and energy, and the balance is there too. An enjoyable wine that should be ready to drink within four to six years, but the low pH and good freshness suggest it should also age well. 55% new oak barrels. 80% of production, with the rest going into the second wine.

Score: 90 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2024-2036 Date: 01 April 2018