Solid tannins come from the vineyard, giving this dense, concentrated wine with a powerful structure and blackberry fruits. The wine’s future is assured, with richness, spice and fruitiness all coming together. *Cellar Selection* (RV)

The grand vin is the 2017 Clos Du Marquis, which is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and a splash of Cabernet Franc. This stunning wine lends credence to the idea that Saint-Julien was the sweet spot for the Medoc in 2017. Classic Cabernet cassis and blue fruit notes as well as ample minerality, violets, and chocolate notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, beautifully polished Saint-Julien that has ripe tannin, terrific balance, and a great finish. It’s going to have 25+ years of prime drinking.

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 fresh, pure style, with violet and cassis aromas leading off, followed by a racy core of raspberry, blackberry and black currant fruit. Very well-integrated, featuring a deeply embedded structure and a singed apple wood note skirting along the edges

The 2017 Clos du Marquis is dark, pliant and inviting. Succulent dark cherry, red plum, mocha, spice and licorice are all super-expressive in this wonderfully open, radiant Saint-Julien. Plush fruit and silky contours add to the wine's considerable appeal. Best of all, the 2017 will drink well with minimal cellaring. This is such a beautiful and expressive wine.

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.

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.

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.