Wine Advisor
Quinault l'Enclos 2017
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
There was no frost here. Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, the 2017 Quinault l'Enclos delivers expressive scents of mulberries, baked plums and boysenberries with hints of tar, licorice and chargrill. Medium-bodied, the palate has a solid structure of chewy tannins and lively acidity framing the elegant black fruit and savory layers, finishing on an earthy note.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
There was no frost at all in Quinault l’Enclos, as it is right in Libourne and a bit warmer. The 2017 Quinault l'Enclos is blended of 64% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new oak and 50% one-year-old oak—only 500-liter barrels and foudres. Deep garnet-purple in color, it gives expressive notes of warm plums, blackberry pie and black forest cake with touches of Chinese five spice and dusty soil. The palate is medium-bodied, firm and grainy with a good amount of earthy fruit and a savory finish.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2017 Quinault L'Enclos is soft, floral and silky - all qualities that make it an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years, maybe more. In 2017, Quinault is fruity and open-knit, with mid-weight structure. The slight vegetal notes that were present en primeur are not as evident today, but this remains a rather light Quinault in terms of weight, fruit pliancy and aromatic depth.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2017 Quinault L'Enclos comes across as rather light in this vintage, with only modest depth and complexity. Bright red stone fruit and floral notes are nicely lifted. It will be interesting to see if the 2017 fleshes out a bit during aging. Today, it is a slightly compact and vegetal. The blend is 64% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Bottled at the beginning of April, the 2017 Quinault l’Enclos suffered no frost damage due to its urban proximity. It has a slightly muted nose that may be due to some bottle shock. The palate is firm on the entry with broody black fruit tinged with Japanese nori, light marine scents. It does not quite "flow" like other vintages I have tasted. A Saint-Émilion that is in a bit of a "mood" at the time of my tasting. Let’s see how it evolves in bottle.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2017 Quinault l’Enclos has a slightly warmer microclimate than Cheval Blanc so it was not affected by frost at all. It is managed exactly like Cheval Blanc even though the terroir is different. It is the first vintage to be vinified in the new cellar equipped with 22 different sized vats and in recent years, more and more Cabernet Sauvignon has been planted due to its gravel soils. This is matured in 50% new oak and 50% used, including one 20-hectolitre foudre. It has a curiously Fronsac-like bouquet with broody dark berry fruit laced with warm gravel, becoming more Left Bank in style as it opens up. The palate is medium-bodied with lace-like tannin, very linear and conservative in style, quite saline in the mouth with a brisk, dried herb, perhaps even fennel-tinged finish. Give this three, maybe four years in bottle as I would like to see it develop a little more grace and personality.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2017 Quinault L'Enclos is soft, floral and silky - all qualities that make it an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years, maybe more. In 2017, Quinault is fruity and open-knit, with mid-weight structure. The slight vegetal notes that were present en primeur are not as evident today, but this remains a rather light Quinault in terms of weight, fruit pliancy and aromatic depth.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A firm and silky red with blackberry and chocolate character. Medium-to full-bodied, pretty and focused. A delicious young wine.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
This shows beauty and balance for the vintage with delicious crushed-berry and chocolate aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. One of the best QEs in a long time. Drink after 2022.
About the Producer
Chateau Quinault l'Enclos is located in the Saint-Emilion appellation of Bordeaux, France, and dates back to the 17th century. The winery takes its name from a writer named Philipe Quinault. In 1930, the estate of the Château de Montréal was only 8 hectares. Until the 1990s, when Chateau Quinault l'Enclos came under the wing of the famous winemaking family - Raynaud Family, Dr. Alain Raynaud invested heavily in Chateau Quinault, eventually making it one of the most famous châteaux in Saint-Emilion. In 2008, Quinault l'Enclos was taken over by Bernard Arnault and Albert Frere, owners of the LVMH group. Then the winery became part of the LVMH group, along with the famous Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau La Tour Figeac, and the estate's vineyard area was expanded. The winemaking team became the Pierre Lurton team of Château Cheval Blanc. Michel Rolland, the famous "flying winemaker", was also hired as a consultant. Now, the vineyard is approximately 20 hectares, planted with 83% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The oldest vines were planted in 1930, and the average age is 45 years. The vineyard was taken over by LVMH in 2008 and was converted to organic farming, and in 2012 it was successfully certified as such. When Dr. Alain Raynaud was at the helm of Château Grand Cru, the wines produced were straightforward, sweet and ripe, round and soft, in the typical style of Saint-Emilion wines, suitable for drinking in their youth, with an optimum age of 10 to 12 years. Today's winemaking team, Pierre Lurton's team, produces wines that are clearer and fresher on the palate, with pleasantly soft tannins and well-integrated oak flavours.
