Clos du Marquis 2011

Dense and full, with supple tannins, juicy, austere finish.

This is well-packed for the vintage, with graphite and charcoal accents forming the edges, while the core sports steeped blackcurrant, blackberry and plum fruit flavours. The long finish lets a tarry note stride in. Best from 2017 to 2027. 6,250 cases made.

Decidedly spicy, the 2011 Clos du Marquis combines layers of dark fruit with freshly grated nutmeg and cinnamon bark, and an earthy undertone. The palate is juicy, driven and long – with nice density and savoury layers woven in with the fruit and filling the finish. The tannins offer a pleasing, but not overly intrusive, grip. Rather lovely – but not one to keep too long.

Beautifully aromatic with lots of flowers and dark fruits. Full-bodied with a chewy backbone of tannins and a racy, textured finish. It’s mineral and focused. Try in 2017.

A perfect wine for restaurants. Already displaying a true Médoc character with its cedar, tobacco, spice and herb personality, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, energetic and fresh, and leaves you with bright, lifted, clean redcurrants with a dash of peppery herbs. No need to decant; just pop and pour.

63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, pH 3.54. Intensely spicy opening with black mountain pepper, leather and delicate lovage notes, followed by redcurrant and light tobacco. On the compact palate with a soft texture, grainy extract and a masculine frame. In the tightly wrapped finish, small black berries, dark graphite and a fine, brittle astringency.

Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with a lilac sheen at the rim. Intense bouquet, currant-like nuances, blackcurrant notes, still a touch reductive. Fine palate, compact, almost creamy texture; a lovely sweetness emanates from the tannins; the finish is unfortunately quite grippy. Can still improve once it has digested this firmness.

(65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 27 hl/ha) Herbal, medium-intensity bouquet, blue fruits, oak. Restrained, dry palate with fine, sandy tannins, medium fruit, medium aromatics, dry finish. 16/20 2017 - 2028

Plenty of sap, tannins still firm, a perfect expression of a northern saint-julien!

A supple, charming Clos du Marquis, very well-balanced with roundness, very approachable.

Clos du Marquis has greatly gained in expression and maturity. It lets its terroir speak through nuances of graphite, complemented by red-berry and mint aromas. On the palate, the wine shows a fine balance of flesh and muscle, with the graphite nuances returning on the finish. A wine that has gained in elegance while retaining a vigorous edge.

Deep, intense colour, beautiful and purple. Fine, fruity, ripe and pure nose. Lovely, caressing entry on the palate. The wine develops plush, flavourful and rather full for the vintage. Finish of good length with finely woven tannins. (65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Cabernet Franc) + 22% Merlot. Good, flavourful length.

The wine is all about firm structure and dense tannins. It is concentrated while hiding rich, generous fruits. It still needs to balance the structure with the fruit. For the future, it will be a rich wine full of power.