Clos du Marquis', Saint-Julien 2014 - Bordeaux, France

95/100 James Suckling
94/100 Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast
93/100 VertdeVin
93/100 Falstaff
92/100 The Wine Cellar Insider
92/100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
91/100 Wine Spectator
90-92/100 Vinous
17/20 Vinum Wine Magazine

93/100 Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (2013 vintage)
90/100 The Wine Cellar Insider (2013 vintage)
89-90/100 James Suckling (2013 vintage)
Bronze - Wine Advocate (2013 vintage)

94/100 Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (2012 vintage)
92/100 Wine Advocate (2012 vintage)
91/100 James Suckling (2012 vintage)

Silver - Decanter (2013 vintage)

James Suckling "Complex aromas of dried flowers, dark fruits such as currants and plums and then a wet-earth undertone. Wet licorice as well. Full body, firm and silky tannins and an entrancing finish. Tight and polished."

Voss, Wine Enthusiast "Produced by the winemaking team of Léoville las Cases, this wine comes from a separate part of the estate. The wine, with its dominance of Cabernet Sauvignon, is dense with tannins as well as dark fruit. It is firm, powerful and a very fine wine for long-term aging."

VertdeVin "The nose is elegant. It reveals notes of fresh red fruit and cassis combined with notes of flowers and slight notes of spices and a touch of liquorice. The mouth is precise, full, fat, relatively elegant, straight and offers a small concentration, a silky matter, juicy fruits and nice tension. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of raspberry and crushed strawberry associated with small notes of black fruit (in background). Tannins are fine, elegant and slightly grainy. Good length."

Falstaff "Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle brightening of the edges, attractive black berry confit, a hint of herbs and nougat, candied orange zest. Complex on the palate, fine blackberry confit, elegant, very fresh, fine tannins, nuances of cherries, lemony touch in the finish, saline finish."

The Wine Cellar Insider "Tobacco and forest floor notes are out in front. Medium/full bodied, with fresh, sweet, ripe red berries and spice, the acidity gives this the perfect amount of lift on the palate. The fruit is juicy, peppery and fresh."

Vinum "Has gained even more density, the tannins have nothing to hide and betray their temperament, but without harshness; comes very close to Las Cases in terms of style."

Robert, Parker, Wine Advocate "...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."

James Suckling "A dense and beautiful wine for the vintage with depth and interest. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Drink or hold." (2013 vintage)

Voss, Wine Enthusiast "Already well balanced, this firm, concentrated wine allows its fruit to show strongly. Dominated by juicy, black-currant-flavored Cabernet Sauvignon, it is solid while also fresh, layering tannins and acidity." (2013 vintage)

The Wine Cellar Insider "There is good freshness and spice to the red fruits and herbs. The wine shows soft tannins and an elegant finish which tastes and feels good on the palate. This is not a wine to lay down. Instead, it is a wine to enjoy in its youth for its forward, youthful qualities." (2013 vintage)

James Suckling "This is a soulful Clos du Marquis with currants, blackberries and hints of earth. Full body, velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish." (2012 vintage)

The 2014 Clos du Marquis is an interesting blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc produced in the prestigious Saint-Julien appellation.

This wine is from the famous Château Léoville Las Cases and was created in 1902, the Clos du Marquis is an historical Médoc brand. The Clos du Marquis comes from the best terroirs of Saint-Julien, and are physically separated from those of its very famous Second Growth owner, Château Léoville Las Cases. 

Located further west and surrounded by several prestigious Second Class Growths. The Clos du Marquis thus displays typical great Saint-Julien characteristics: structure, complexity, balance, harmony, distinction and great ageing potential.

This wine is from an estate in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Médoc. The Chateau It was rated a second growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, and was traditionally the softest of the three Léovilles. However, in the last few decades, the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wine has gained weight and density.

Saint-Julien is a small but important red wine appellation of the Haut-Médoc district on the Left Bank of Bordeaux in south-western France. Its reputation is based on its status as a reliable source of consistently elegant, age-worthy wines. Sandwiched between the more famous appellations of Pauillac and Margaux, Saint-Julien is sometimes unfairly overlooked because it does not have a first growth chateau in the 1855 Bordeaux classification.

Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, needs little introduction as one of the world's most famous, prestigious and prolific wine regions. Its three trump cards are diversity, quality and quantity. The majority of Bordeaux wines (nearly 90 percent of production volume) are the dry, medium- and full-bodied red Bordeaux Blends that established its reputation. The legendary reds are complemented by high-quality white wines, both dry styles (particularly from Pessac-Léognan) and the sweet, botrytized nectars of Sauternes.

A Bordeaux Blend is any combination of those grape varieties typically used to make the red wines of Bordeaux. Cabernet Sauvignon is widely accepted as a compulsory component of any Bordeaux Blend along with Merlot. In fact, the majority of Bordeaux Blend wines are often made exclusively from a blend of these two varieties. The remaining components are Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.