2017 Clos du Marquis

The 2017 Clos du Marquis is dark, pliant and inviting. Succulent dark cherry, red plum, mocha, spice and licorice are all super-expressive in this wonderfully open, radiant Saint-Julien. Plush fruit and silky contours add to the wine's considerable appeal. Best of all, the 2017 will drink well with minimal cellaring. This is such a beautiful and expressive wine.

Since 2007, the Clos du Marquis comes from an entirely different vineyard in Saint-Julien than the Leoville Las Cases, so it is not a second wine. And there was only a small amount of frost on the western edge of this vineyard in 2017. A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Clos du Marquis is medium to deep garnet-purple in color and struts confidently out of the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blackcurrants, warm blackberries and fresh black and red plums with touches of cigar box and bouquet garni. Medium-bodied, the palate is chock-full of zingy black fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long with a skip in its step.

The 2017 Clos du Marquis was picked from 15 September until 4 October. It has an attractive and, in the context of Clos du Marquis, understated bouquet with endearing marine scents filtering through the red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine balance. This has lost the "rondeur" that it exhibited out of barrel, revealing a more streamlined, sappy Saint-Julien with a welcome pinch of spice towards the classically-lined finish. Drink over the next 15 years, possibly more.