Clos du Marquis 1995

Characteristics and tasting advice for Clos du Marquis 1995

Tasting

Color
The color displays a deep, intense purple hue, reflecting the vintage’s remarkable concentration.

Nose
The nose reveals a rich, complex expression dominated by aromas of blackcurrant and deep red cherry. Notes of cedar and cedarwood bring an elegant oaky dimension, while hints of dark chocolate, vanilla, licorice, and tobacco add beautiful aromatic complexity to the bouquet. A floral and spicy nuance harmoniously rounds out the whole.

Palate
On the palate, this wine stands out for its firm, well-defined tannic structure, without aggressiveness. The flavor profile reveals multidimensional notes of concentrated black fruit, rich blackcurrant, lightly roasted coffee, and spices. The texture is full and generous, with fine fruit depth balanced by fresh, well-structured acidity. The tannins, finely grained, support the whole with elegance. The finish is long and persistent, allowing notes of black fruit, cedar, tobacco, and coffee to linger for several minutes.

Food and wine pairings
Clos du Marquis 1995, with its robust structure and well-present tannins, pairs ideally with generous red meats such as a rib steak or a filet mignon. Game—especially venison, pheasant, or wild boar—also makes a natural match for this pronounced tannic profile. Braised, roasted, or grilled meats, served with wine reductions or rich pan juices, complement the wine’s structure beautifully. Aged cheeses with a firm texture and pronounced flavor also pair very well with this Bordeaux.

Serving and cellaring
Clos du Marquis 1995 requires careful opening and decanting for one to two hours before serving to allow its tannic structure to fully open up. The recommended serving temperature is between 14 and 16°C.

A rich, structured Saint-Julien with remarkable aging potential

The estate
Officially created in 1902, Clos du Marquis takes its name from the Petit Clos adjoining Château de Léoville, the former residence of the Marquis de Las Cases. Since 1989, it has no longer been a second wine, but rather a cuvée from distinct parcels located on the Saint-Julien plateau, about 500 meters west of the main enclosure of Château Léoville Las Cases. Now owned by Jean-Hubert Delon and his sister Geneviève d'Alton, Clos du Marquis covers approximately 45 hectares and benefits from the same vineyard and winemaking methods as Léoville Las Cases’ Grand Vin. The estate works with sustainable practices and is moving toward organic certification.

The vineyard
The Clos du Marquis vineyard is located on the Saint-Julien plateau, at an altitude of 20 meters, surrounded by prestigious classified properties such as Léoville Poyferré, Léoville Barton, and Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. The terroir is made up of ancient, fine Quaternary gravels over a sandy gravel clay base with an organic-matter-rich humic podzol—an inheritance from a forested past. The vines, averaging 35 years of age, are planted at a density of 8,700 vines per hectare. The more pronounced water constraints of this terroir contribute to slower, more controlled ripening than in neighboring vineyards. Harvesting is carried out by hand, following the estate’s traditional practices.

The vintage
1995 proved to be an exceptional vintage in the Bordeaux region. Summer brought high temperatures and beneficial dryness, promoting perfect grape ripening. This vintage produced wines with deep color, generous fruit, and ripe tannins. The 1995 Clos du Marquis harvest took place between September 21 and October 9, a period marked by favorable weather conditions for ripening grapes in the Médoc.

Winemaking and aging
Clos du Marquis 1995 was made using the estate’s traditional methods, with fermentations in wooden, concrete, or stainless-steel vats. Aging took place in French oak barrels for several months, with 40% new barrels and the remainder in barrels that were one or more years old. This balanced approach brings vanilla and toasted oak notes without overwhelming the fruit expression, reflecting the estate’s top-tier practices.

Grape varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Merlot (19%), Cabernet Franc (13%), Petit Verdot (3%)