Clos du Marquis 2009

Immensely stylish, of great breed, with firm, austere tannins: keeps its promise from the en primeur tasting: a great Clos, indeed the greatest ever tasted.

Now positioned as a totally separate vineyard and a real clos (enclosed walled vineyard), this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from Jean-Hubert Delon is a beauty. Creme de cassis notes intermixed with some vanillin, crushed rock and spring flowers jump from the glass. Full-bodied and powerful (nearly 14% natural alcohol), this is a generously endowed, rich wine that was first made in 1902. The 2009 should drink well for 20-25 years. Readers need to think of it as a true classified growth, although technically it is not.

This has a perfumy espresso edge to its racy red currant, briar and blackberry bush notes. Long and refined through to the finish, with a pronounced minerality that should soften in a decade. Tight, but a rather elegant expression of Cabernet overall. Best from 2016 through 2024. 15,000 cases made.

Still young in feel, this is limbering up fast with rich brambly fruit and lots to grip onto through the palate. It's a great way to experience St-Julien in this vintage and you can start drinking this now, although there's no need to rush. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 45% new oak.

Rich yet firmly structured this is a very classic St.-Julien that's generous and polished with so much energy driving the long plush finish. Delicious now, but should hold for many years. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)

Tasted blind. Mid crimson. Nicely composed without being a standout. Hint of cream cheese on the black-cherry fruit so not the most appetising but perfectly OK. Just a little leathery on the end. A little tough and lacking freshness on the end. (JR)

Right from the off, this is delicious, offering a burst of sweet, ripe, juicy, fresh cassis. Medium to full-bodied, there is sweetness, freshness and purity to the bright red fruits on the palate and on the nose. Drink now after a 30-60 minute decant.

Intense ruby red with purple hues, some brightening on the rim. Dark notes of cabernet fruit, a hint of blackberries, savoury tobacco notes, oak. Taut, tightly meshed, refined red berry nuances, ripe tannins, mineral and salty, enveloping, already drinking well, but still needs further time to age.

A beautiful, young and still burly 2009, Clos du Marquis comes from a single vineyard in the Léoville Las Cases stable (it is not a second wine) and is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, with the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It is a beautiful wine offering classic Saint-Julien crème de cassis fruit as well as plenty of rocky minerality, cedarwood, graphite and spring flowers. With full-bodied richness, a seamless, layered mouthfeel, stunning purity of fruit and a great finish, it needs a solid decant if drinking today and has another two decades or more of prime drinking.

Deep purple. Sleek yet aromatic cassis and blackberry bouquet with a fine touch of cedar and a black-cherry, compote-like sweetness. Well-built, fairly tight body, fleshy tannins; liquorice and vanilla bean on the finish. An impressive wine that can still gain further, and is thus eyeing 18/20 for the first time.

Deep purple, dense at the core, garnet glints at the rim. Sleek yet aromatic bouquet of blackcurrant and blackberry, with a fine touch of cedar, revealing an undercurrent of black-cherry compote sweetness. Well-built, fairly tight-knit palate, fleshy tannins that show above all in the wine’s extract, a finish of liquorice and vanilla bean. An impressive wine that can still gain further. Thus, this would be the first Clos du Marquis to land at 18/20.

Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Franc 8%, Petit-Verdot 2%. Velvety, fruity, fresh, fragrant bouquet with red and blue berries, mint, vanilla and mocha. A velvety, fresh, medium-bodied palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins and sweet, spicy aromatics. Long, full finish. 17/20 2015 - 2030

Dense, fresh attack, plenty of elegance, long, fairly austere.

Lovely dark red colour. Fine nose with pure, ripe fruit. Supple palate developing a caressing texture, with power after the mid-palate. Fine-grained finish. Very pleasant.

92-94 Barrel sample. Ripe and surprisingly soft, the fruit rich with a touch of milk chocolate, very ripe. It is packed with generous blackberry juice flavors.