Clos du Marquis 2015

The 2015 Clos Du Marquis is gorgeous, but one of the more backward, closed wines in the vintage. Made from 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new oak, it’s deep purple color is followed by promising notes of blackcurrants, smoked earth, tobacco and lead pencil. With full-bodied richness, a ripe, concentrated, structured feel, and impressive length, I wouldn’t touch bottles for at least 7-8 years, and it should last for two decades or more. 2025 - 2045

Sweet and ripe on the nose the palate has depth richness cassis and black cherry backed by chocolate and coffee beans. The tannins are fine the back palate has sweet fruit yet there is freshness brightness on the finish.

The launch of a second wine seems to have increased the quality of Clos du Marquis, whichwas already high. Savoury, sweet and well balanced, with none of the firmness the wine canshow in its youth, this has plenty of oak as well as bramble and red fruit intensity.Drink: 2022-30

The removal of around 15-20% into La Petite Marquise (q.v.) has helped this wine to become finer, longer, more persistentand also more packed with fruit. This is a very successful exercise in making two better wines from one already goodone. Clos du Marquis is a triumph in this vintage. The length is sensational and the intensity of flavour never drops off. Itis situated on classic Saint-Julien terroir (unlike Las Cases, which somehow seems more Pauillac-like) and it shows theclear Saint-Julien flavour palette in this vintage.

The 2015 Clos du Marquis is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. It has a really engaging, pretty, quite feminine bouquet with rose petal-infused redcurrant, crushed strawberry and blackcurrant fruit. The new oak (50%) is very well integrated here. The palate is well balanced with sensual ripe tannin, crushed violet infusing the darker fruit than the nose suggests: blackberry and boysenberry, touches of graphite and tar toward the nicely structured finish. This is a superb Clos du Marquis that should give two or three decades of drinking pleasure. Anticipated maturity: 2022 - 2042.

The 2015 Clos du Marquis is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc cropped at 39 hl/ha between 22 September and 9 October, a total of 15 days of picking. Matured in 50% new oak, it has a pure and harmonious bouquet with blackberry, sous-bois and subtle tobacco aromas that gently unfold in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin in the mouth, a keen line of acidity, fine precision here with a mineral-rich finish that exudes terroir expression. This is a great Clos du Marquis from Jean-Hubert Delon and his team, a Clos du Marquis with swagger. Drink: 2020 -040.

A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Clos du Marquis gives up expressive notes of warm mulberries, kirsch and blackberry pie with touches of sandalwood, potpourri, anise and charcuterie. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a great core of rich, spicy fruit framed by plush tannins and finishing with an invigorating lift. Drink 2019 - 2033.

Very dark crimson. Very fragrant and much more concentrated and rich than Petite Marquise. Cool and fresh. Really very sophisticated. Bravo! Compete and sappy. 13.8%Drink 2023-2035