Le Point 16 / 20 byJacques Dupontthe5/21/2015 Epices, fruits noirs, bouche souple, fraîche, droite, élégant, frais, droit, racé, long, belle texture délicate.
Vinous 90-92 / 100 byAntonio Gallonithe5/11/2015 The 2014 Clos du Marquis is quite pretty and expressive. Blue and purplish-hued fruit, sweet spices and mint all open up nicely in the glass. The 2014 is not a huge wine, rather it is distinguished by its energy, precision and overall nuance. Scents of violet, lavender, mint and sweet spices add complexity on the gracious, inviting finish. This is a lovely effort and a fabulous example of the vintage. The more feminine side of St. Julien comes through in spades. The blend is 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc.
The Wine Cellar Insider 90-92 / 100 byJeff Levethe5/5/2015 This wine already exhibits cedar, earth and cassis with ripe, firm tannins and a spicy, fresh, clean and crispy finish. Blending 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, this wine reached 13.85% alcohol and will be aged in 50% new French oak barrels. 90-92 Pts
Wine Advocate 90-92 / 100 byNeal Martinthe4/30/2015 The Clos du Marquis 2014 is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc cropped at 33 hectoliter per hectare and matured in 50% new wood. Picked between 30 September and 13 October, it has a ripe, quite opulent bouquet with layers of blackberry, dark plum and incense, a touch of pencil lead with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a little pinched at the moment but it will “relax”. The alcohol level is one of the highest ever at 13.85% and yet it it counterbalanced by its freshness. In fact, the finish is quite classic in style and provides a pleasant juxtaposition with the more generous aromatics – it will be interesting to see how they develop during their élevage.
Asian Palate 93 / 100 byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2015 An attractive Clos du Marquis that is elegant and vibrant with juicy red fruit character. Good substance on the palate with blackberry, cassis and cedar notes in the finish. The ripeness was achieved at the end so harvest was long from mid-September to mid-October.
Decanter.com 17,25 / 20 bySteven Spurrierthe4/17/2015 Very good density of fruit: lots of lift and great purity and class. Pure St-Julien. Drink: 2019-2030 (90+)
Jancis Robinson 16,5 / 20 byJancis Robinsonthe4/16/2015 Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon: 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 22% Merlot. Discreet nose. A bit austere, as though the less ripe fruit went into here. Very sinewy and lacks flesh. Drink 2022-2035
Jamessuckling.com 92-93 / 100 byJames Sucklingthe4/10/2015 The purity of fruit to this young wine is impressive with currants, raspberries and black cherries. Full body, firm and chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Very serious. Structured. Fine.
René Gabriel 17 / 20 byRené Gabrielthe4/1/2015 Dunkles Granat, recht satt in der Mitte, rubiner Rand. Sehr rotbeeriges Bouquet, die Beeren wirken wie just gepflückt, dahinter Rosenpfeffer und fein florale Züge, zeigt sich ziemlich engmaschig im Nasenansatz. Stoffiger Gaumen, rotes Cassis und angenehmer Nachklang. Weiss spontan zu gefallen und dürfte bald und auch relativ lange Freude bereiten. 17/20 2020 – 2036
Wine Enthusiast 95 / 100 byRoger Vossthe4/1/2015 94–96. Barrel Sample. From a separate vineyard on the Léoville Las Cases estate, this is a solidly structured, concentrated wine of power and depth. It just avoids the bitterness of extraction because of the superrich berry and plum fruits. The tough background yields to vibrant acidity on the finish. — R.V. (4/1/2015)
Wine Spectator 90-93 / 100 byJames Molesworththe3/31/2015 This has a subtle sauvage side, with a hint of dark olive and a smoldering tobacco note weaving around the core of fleshy plum sauce and steeped blackberry fruit.A touch firm on the finish for now, with a woodsy edge, but features more than enough