Clos du Marquis Saint Julien 2015

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2009 Clos du Marquis gives up notes of warm cassis, mocha, plum preserves and tobacco with a touch of Mediterranean herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is solidly structured with firm, chewy tannins backing up the muscular fruit core, culminating in a mineral-laced finish.

Critical Acclaim

93 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Now positioned as a totally separate vineyard and a real close (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. Readers need to think of it as a true classified growth, although technically it is not.

95 James Suckling
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.

94 Jeb Dunnuck
A beautiful, young, and still burly 2009, the Clos du Marquis comes from a single vineyard in the Loville Las Cases stable (it’s not a second wine) and is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It’s a beautiful wine offering classic Saint-Julien crme de cassis fruits as well as lots of rocky minerality, cedarwood, graphite, and spring flowers.

94 Wine Enthusiast

A dense wine, the wood just showing at this stage through its dark tannins and superb rich fruit. The wine is ripe, with a density of tannins that go right down deep. Big and powerful.

92 Vinous

The 2009 Clos du Marquis is tightly wound on the nose, gradually unfurling to reveal blackberry pastilles, boysenberry, pencil shaving and subtle mint aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, good weight in the mouth, and crisp acidity. Fresh and vibrant with a gentle grip on the finish that perhaps would benefit from more persistence. Otherwise, this is very fine.

92 Wine Spectator

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