Region | |
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Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien |
Colour | Red |
Type | Still |
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Léoville-Las Cases
The wine is pure with lots of creme de cassis, crushed rock and vanillin characteristics in its long, medium to full-bodied personality. Given the fact that this vineyard was once part of the larger Leoville Las Cases estate, it is no surprise that it is similar to its more famous as well as more expensive cousin. A strong effort in this vintage, it should drink well for 15-20 years.
Tasted blind at the Bordeaux 2012 Southwold tasting. The 2012 Clos du Marquis has a very intense bouquet, the more fruit-driven of all the Saint Julien 2012s with layers of black cherries and cranberry fruit, an undercurrent of autumn leaves and cigar box. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition: smooth and very harmonious, quite intense on the entry and yet without that long sustain on the finish. That does not matter too much, because what comes before is very precise and pure, the class of the terroir evident from start to finish. Tasted January 2016.
Like next-door neighbour Latour, Léoville Lascases produces a wine that people think of as a second wine, but it isn't. Clos du Marquis is a wine of classed growth quality in its own right, produced from vines on the other side of the "enclos" near Leoville Poyferré. Indeed, this is the equal of most 3rd, 4th and 5th Growths and has been an outstanding performer for many years. Lascases is now producing a "proper" second wine called Le Petit Lion from their young vines, which will re-enforce the image of Clos du Marquis as a stand-alone property
The Clos du Marquis is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc cropped at 33hl/ha and matured in 40% new oak. It has a tobacco-scented bouquet of blackberry and a touch of blueberry fruit. It is tightly coiled compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. There is good density of fruit here with plenty of blackcurrant and raspberry fruit, although it is presently rigid and conservative towards the finish. Fine. Tasted April 2013.