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Clos du Marquis 2017

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

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 a vineyard on the other side of the road near to the vines of Leoville Poyferré. Lascases itself is situated in a walled vineyard alongside Latour overlooking the estuary. Clos du Marquis 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 and there is now a second wine of Clos du Marquis called "La Petite Marquise".

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Léoville-Las Cases

Label

Tasting Notes

Wonderful aromas of blackberries, flowers, violets and Indian spices. Medium to full body with extremely polished, tight tannins that interface well with the ripe fruit. Remains extremely long and focused. A blend of 72% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot and 1% cabernet franc. Better after 2023.

94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, January 2020

A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet colored 2017 Clos du Marquis springs from the glass with vivacious notes of crushed red and black currants, fresh blackberries, and violets, plus suggestions of underbrush and cedar. Medium-bodied, the palate is bright and lively with soft, grainy tannins and just enough youthful red and black fruit expression, finishing with a skip in its step.

93
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, December 2022

This takes its time, has a fairly hefty structure and unfurls at its own pace. The last day of harvest was 4 October, but the overall growth cycle was early so they were able to wait for full ripeness, and even though the fruit flavours are savoury, they are intense. It certainly has some bounce and energy, and the balance is there too. An enjoyable wine that should be ready to drink within four to six years, but the low pH and good freshness suggest it should also age well. 55% new oak barrels. 80% of production, with the rest going into the second wine.
Drinking Window 2024 - 2036

90
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, April 2018

Deepest crimson with black core. Gorgeous dark fruit, with savoury/graphite as counterpoint to the cassis. A hint of oak char but at the right level for harmony at this point. Benchmark Cabernet flavours, pure and refined and fresh. Very precise fruit, long. Firm but dry. Smooth, deep texture and excellent freshness. 13.48%
Drink 2025-2035

17
Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2018

Concentrated ripe fruit the nose has depth the start of the palate is sweet and rich. Fresher black fruit balance lightens the back and bring out fragrances on the finish. Drink 2024-2036.

89/92
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, May 2018

Much more classic and predictable, this is a benchmark Clos du Marquis and yet it will not be a long-lived vintage. More pliable, refreshing and easy-going and it develops a Cabernet theme alongside the Saint-Julien theme beautifully. Balanced in every way and this is because the grapes became physiologically ripe at exactly the same time as they became flavour-ripe!

17
Matthew Jukes, Matthew Jukes' Blog, April 2018
Read more tasting notes...

Since 2007, the Clos du Marquis comes from an entirely different vineyard in Saint-Julien than the Leoville Las Cases, so it is not a second wine. And there was only a small amount of frost on the western edge of this vineyard in 2017. A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Clos du Marquis is medium to deep garnet-purple in color and struts confidently out of the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blackcurrants, warm blackberries and fresh black and red plums with touches of cigar box and bouquet garni. Medium-bodied, the palate is chock-full of zingy black fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long with a skip in its step. 2022-2045.

93
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (March 2020), March 2020

Firm and silky wine with very pretty dark-berry and cherry character with currant undertones. Pure quality of fruit is serious. Very salty on the finish. Bright acidity, too.

93/94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2018

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored and composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Clos du Marquis gives up gorgeous notions of crushed plums, blackberries and cassis with hints of chocolate box, pencil lead, menthol and lavender. The palate is medium-bodied, very finely crafted and refreshing with firm yet fine-grained tannins, great intensity and a long, mineral-laced finish.

91/93
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (236), April 2018
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.