Clos du Marquis, Saint Julien 2014

"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."

92 Pts The Wine Advocate

The name of this wine, created at the beginning of the 20th century when the vineyard was planted, was inspired by the Petit Clos adjacent to the Château de Léoville, residence of the Marquis de Las Cases.

Clos du Marquis is a historical brand by the Domaines Delon, at the very origin a separate vineyard to Leoville Las Cases whose first vintage was released in 1902. 4 generations of winemakers have inherited their know how.

The Clos du Marquis comes from an entirely different vineyard in Saint-Julien than the Chateau Leoville Las Cases, so it is not a second wine.

The creation of this brand allowed to produce a wine enjoying the best of these distinct terroirs, the main part being surrounded by such prestigious Classified Growths as Léoville Poyferré and Léoville Barton, Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande...

The vines stretch over about 45 hectares with an average age of 30 years. The presence of organic matter in the top soil is due to the presence of a forest on this land in the past. This characteristic brings a typical Saint-Julien style to the wine: structure, complexity, harmony, distinction and ageing potential.