Clos du Marquis 1996

Characteristics and tasting advice for Clos du Marquis 1996

Tasting

Color

The color displays a dense, deep purple hue, evolving over time toward orange and brick-red tones at the rim.

Nose

The nose reveals lovely aromatic complexity, with notes of smoky oak supported by generous ripe fruit. With aeration, the bouquet gains nuances of blackcurrant, black cherry, cedar and graphite, alongside spicy, chocolate and leather touches. Mineral and metallic notes bring an additional dimension to the overall aromatic profile.

Palate

The attack is supple before unveiling a considerable structure carried by fine, well-integrated tannins. The palate expresses flavors of ripe blackcurrant and black cherry, complemented by notes of tobacco, cedar and subtle leather. The balance between fruit, oak, tannins and acidity attests to the quality of this vintage. The finish lingers at length, with a saline freshness that reflects the character of the terroir.

Food and wine pairings

This Clos du Marquis 1996 pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted red meats, notably beef served with red wine sauces. It also matches very well with game such as venison, as well as lamb prepared as a roast or in a stew. Aged hard cheeses such as Comté, Manchego or aged Cheddar also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

Clos du Marquis 1996 should be served at a temperature between 15 and 18°C.

A characterful Saint-Julien from a historic Bordeaux terroir

The estate

Created in 1902, the Clos du Marquis takes its name from the Petit Clos located near Château de Léoville, the former residence of the Marquis de Las Cases. Owned by the Delon family since the end of the 19th century, the estate is now run by Jean-Hubert Delon, who took the helm in 1994. Clos du Marquis stands out as a distinctive cuvée produced from specific parcels spanning forty-five hectares, rather than as a second wine.

The vineyard

The Clos du Marquis vineyard spans forty-five hectares on the Saint-Julien plateau, at an altitude of twenty meters, located about five hundred meters west of the Grand Enclos of Léoville Las Cases. The soils are mainly composed of old, fine Quaternary gravels resting on a clay-gravel and clay subsoil. The presence of organic matter inherited from ancient forests gives the wines a distinctive typicity. The vines, with an average age of thirty-five years, are planted at a density of 8,700 vines per hectare. The proximity of the Gironde estuary creates a specific microclimate, although the grapes ripen later than in the Grand Enclos due to a less pronounced thermal influence.

The vintage

The 1996 vintage in Bordeaux ranks among the decade’s most successful. The growing season benefited from ideal flowering and rapid development at veraison. The warm, sunny summer, with relatively little rainfall, was followed by a mild and dry September, allowing the grapes to reach exceptional concentration while retaining aromatic freshness and balanced acidity. Harvest took place from late September through October under optimal weather conditions.

Winemaking and aging

Clos du Marquis 1996 was harvested by hand, enabling rigorous bunch selection. After meticulous sorting and careful destemming, vinification was carried out in temperature-controlled oak and cement vats of different sizes. Malolactic fermentation was conducted in vat to ensure complete conversion of malic acid. The wine was then aged for twelve to fourteen months in French oak barrels, 40% new, bringing structure and complexity without masking the expression of the fruit and the terroir.

Grape varieties

Cabernet sauvignon (60%)
Merlot (33%)
Petit verdot (7%)