Clos du Marquis 2012

Clos du Marquis is a secret garden adjacent to the esteemed Second Growth estate, Château Léoville Las Cases.  Though the vines are tended to by the same talented viticultural team and the know-how of the illustrious DeLeon family influences the trajectory of this wine, it would be wrong to assume Clos du Marquis is a second wine.  Clos du Marquis is its own unique label, and a textbook expression of some of the choicest Saint-Julién terroir adjacent to the prestigious estate.  This beautiful wine is a stunning example of some of the choicest terroirs of Saint-Julién, surrounded by excellent properties like Léoville Las Cases, Léoville Poyferré and Léoville Barton.   For value-oriented consumers who appreciate the supple beauty of a good Saint-Julién that will not break the bank, look no further than Clos du Marquis.   

Clos du Marquis is a mere 500 meters from the walled off vineyards of Château Léoville Las Cases.   For those who know their history, they will remember that Château Léoville Las Cases was a portion of the vast Léoville estate.  The estate was sectioned off into the following properties: Château Léoville Las Cases, Château Léoville Barton, and Château Léoville Poyferré.  The vineyard of Clos du Marquis was planted by the talented team at Léoville Las Cases in 1902 and is still tended to by the team of this Second Growth estate today.  It is the only non-enclosed vineyard to be named, “Clos.”  It is illegal nowadays to do that.  The location of the Petit Clos, adjacent to the vineyards of Léoville Las Cases where the Marquis de las Cases used to reside, inspired the creation of this wine.  The terroir held much promise, and it seemed to be a crime to not explore the potential of this land.  

At Clos du Marquis, the elevation is a serviceable 20 meters above sea level.  There is a great slope to the property, which is excellent for drainage during particularly rainy months.   The gravel here is older and finer than the Enclos gravel at Léoville Las Cases, and there is plenty of organic matter which gives nutrients to the vines.  This is because there used to be a forest at the property. The vines of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc are approximately 35 years old on average, though some are closer to 45 years of age. Cabernet Sauvignon does particularly well here, as this fine gravel is excellent for drainage during rainy months.  The grapes ripen a little later here than the grapes growing at Léoville Las Cases and the resulting wine possesses all the classic elements of a truly great Saint-Julién. One can expect to experience finesse, structure, harmony and plenty of ageing potential with this wine.   

Clos du Marquis is a little more approachable than its more powerful, tannic cousin, Château Léoville Las Cases.  One can enjoy it a bit on the younger side with a few hours of decanting, yet with all that in mind, the wine can age for a decent period of time.  

The name of this wine, created at the beginning of the 20th century when the vineyard was planted, was inspired by the Petit Clos adjacent to the Château de Léoville, residence of the Marquis de Las Cases. Clos du Marquis is a historical brand by the Domaines Delon, a separate vineyard to Leoville Las Cases whose first vintage was released in 1902.

The creation of this brand was to allow a clear identification of two completely distinct terroirs. The situation remains unchanged today as the vineyard producing the Clos du Marquis is located on top terroirs of the Saint Julien appellation, surrounded by such prestigious Classified Growths as Léoville Poyferré and Léoville Barton. (Credit: Domaines Delon)

"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." - Neal Martin, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, (10/28/2016, Issue 227), Rating: 92, Drink: 2019-2038

"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.

A brilliant effort from Jean-Hubert Delon, Clos du Marquis is now an entirely separate estate from Leoville Las Cases and its second wine, Le Petit Lion. The outstanding 2012 Clos du Marquis is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc and came in at 13.5% natural alcohol. About 50% new oak is used." - Robert Parker Jr, The Wine Advocate, (4/24/2013, Issue 206), Rating: 91-93, Drink: 2013-2033