Clos du Marquis 2010

robert_parker92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Clos du Marquis 2010 has a lovely bouquet with ripe blackberry, raspberry and wild strawberry fruit laced with cedar and cigar box aromas - pure Cabernet heaven. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly raw entry. To pick straws, it feels a little disjointed compared to its peers at the moment, although there is good substance and weight in the mouth, certainly sufficient structured on the finish to merit long-term cellaring. It just needs to find more cohesion. Tasted January 2014.

robert_parker93

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Now essentially treated as a separate estate by Jean-Hubert Delon, and not as a second wine of Leoville Las Cases (whose second wine is now the newly introduced Le Petit Lion), Clos du Marquis has been a shrewd consumer’s purchase for almost two decades. Interestingly, the first vintage of Clos du Marquis was introduced in 1902! The 2010, which is an exceptional wine, was produced from the same parcel that always goes into this wine. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, it is a relatively big wine at 13.6% natural alcohol, with loads of black cherries, black currants and crushed rocks in a medium to full-bodied format. Layered, intense, high-class and complex, this wine should drink nicely for 15 or more years.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

Cropped at just 36.7hl/ha, the Clos du Marquis is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc raised in 37% new oak, offering 13.6% alcohol with a pH of 3.63. The nose is driven by the cedar-infused Cabernet, one of the most closed noses that I have encountered during primeur. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine, saturated tannins, a little fleshier that I was expecting given the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, but very harmonious on the finish that belies the structure underneath. Drink 2016- Tasted March 2011.

robert_parker94

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The Clos du Marquis demands some coaxing from the glass but it is worth persevering: blackberry, oyster shell, a hint of seaweed – a complex bouquet that entices you in. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh black fruit on the entry. It feels supple in the mouth, beautifully balanced towards the finish with dark cherries and plum lingering on the aftertaste. Excellent. Tasted November 2012.

robert_parker90

Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

With the alcohol hitting 13.6% in a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, this wine displays plenty of sweet kirsch, licorice and black currant fruit in a classy, seductive style, with medium to full body, soft but abundant tannins and a long finish. It does indeed possess the elegance and finesse of its bigger sibling, Leoville Las Cases. Drink it over the next 10-15 years. Clos de Marquis is no longer a second wine, but rather one from a separate vineyard in the holdings of Leoville Las Cases. It should be thought of as a different entity, although the same winemaking team and philosophy are at play.

robert_parker90

Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Clos du Marquis opens with medicinal, cherry cough syrup scents followed by a core of plum preserves and crème de cassis plus a touch of wild sage. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is coated with maturing black fruits and dried mint flavors, framed by chewy tannins and finishing with a refreshing lift.

vinous89

Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata

(75% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot and 8% cabernet franc; 66 IPT; 37% new oak; 13.6% alcohol) Bright, deep red. Subtle aromas of red berries, cherry, flowers and minerals. A ripe, sweet midweight with good tension to its supple red fruit, licorice and fresh herb flavors. Finishes with moderate length and a refined quality; currently a little subdued, and although the tannins are smooth, I get a hint of green at the back.

vinous92

Reviewed by: Neal Martin

The 2010 Clos du Marquis offers blackberry, melted tar and tobacco scents on the nose, this comes across a tad more introspective than its peers. After a few minutes it reveals fine delineation and focus, more precise than initially thought. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins, well judged acidity, slightly peppery with a harmonious and persistent finish that is very satisfying. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.

vinous90

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Deep, bright red. Inviting aromas of black cherry and sweet spices lifted by a floral nuance. Supple and fine-grained; remarkably smooth and plush for a young Clos du Marquis, with black cherry and dark berry flavors conveying a restrained sweetness and an impression of elegance. Plenty of stuffing here for mid-term aging but seamless enough to give immediate pleasure.