Clos du Marquis - Saint-Julien 2023

Jeb DUNNUCK

95

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/31/2026

A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc that spent 16 months in 50% new French oak, the 2023 Clos Du Marquis is a bigger, richer wine in the vintage. Its deep purple/plum hue is followed by blockbuster aromatics of blackcurrants, smoke, tobacco, spice, and chocolate. Rich, full-bodied, deep, and layered on the palate, it has ample mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, nicely integrated oak, and a great finish. I love it even today, yet it will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and have 30 years of longevity. Drink 2029-2055.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93

byJeff Levethe3/30/2026

Espresso, cigar box, blackberries, dark red pit fruits, and flowers fill the perfume. The wine is medium-bodied, refreshing, chewy, and vivid, with a crispness and energy to the salt-edged, currant finish. The wine was made from a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2042.

Vinous

95

byAntonio Gallonithe3/16/2026

The 2023 Clos du Marquis is a standout. Dark, deep and explosive, the 2023 possesses serious mid-palate density and exceptional balance. Black cherry, plum, new leather, licorice, incense, lavender and hard candy soar from the glass, building into a sweeping crescendo that explodes on the back end. This is one of the finest vintages of Clos du Marquis I can remember tasting. There's striking depth, density and personality. Clos du Marquis is a real sleeper in 2023.

Vinous

92

byNeal Martinthe2/1/2026

The 2023 Clos du Marquis, raised in 50% new oak for 16 months, takes a few moments to really open in the glass, but it reveals satisfying fruit concentration, with blackberry, cedar and light cigar box scents unfurling in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, with quite a feisty opening, bright and sharp, with a keen line of acidity that counters that ripe red fruit. Gentle grip but quite persistent on the finish, this is a very fine, perhaps more approachable Clos du Marquis.

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe1/27/2026

Fresh and floral, showing lilac, mint and light stone aromas that follow through to a medium body with really fine, broad tannins that fan out on the palate. Creamy and textural with lovely fruit and purity. Extremely long and poised. First year made in a new cellar. A blend of 56% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 9% cabernet franc. Very drinkable now but needs three to four years of bottle aging to come together.

My Bettane + Desseauve

94-95

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/15/2024

Excellence du corps et du style, qui marie les notes de cèdre et les fruits rouges et noirs, maturité complète du raisin, boisé racé propre au style des domaines Delon, grand avenir. On est au niveau d’un excellent troisième cru classé.

Yvesbeck.wine

94-96

byYves Beckthe5/14/2024

Clos du Marquis ist ein wenig von seiner Reifung geprägt, was bei einer Primeurweinprobe nicht weiter verwunderlich ist! Man sollte das Wesentliche nicht aus den Augen verlieren: Die auftretenden Holznuancen sind elegant. Das Terroir kommt mit Graphitnoten, die von Düften von Brombeeren, Holunder und Eukalyptus umgeben sind, zum Vorschein. Charme und Frische in einem. Die liebliche Seite des Auftakts scheint nur ein Moment der Ruhe zu sein, denn die Kraft ist unübersehbar, aber sie bewahrt die Sensibilität, nicht alles auf den Kopf zu stellen... es ist eine stille Kraft. Ein Wein mit präzisen, imposanten Tanninen sowie einer strukturierenden Säure und einem lang anhaltenden Abgang. Ein kerniger St-Julien und sicherlich einer der größten Clos du Marquis den ich verkostet habe.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-94

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/13/2024

A beautiful Saint-Julien from the team of Léoville Las Cases, the 2023 Clos Du Marquis offers a deep purple hue as well as terrific aromatics of red and black fruits, saddle leather, graphite, and dried flowers. I love its complexity, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a concentrated, layered style. It brings plenty of density and mid-palate depth, has ripe tannins, and outstanding length.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94

byJeff Levethe5/6/2024

Cigar box, blackberries, dark red pit fruits, flowers, and tobacco leaves, along with black currants fill the perfume. The wine is concentrated, juicy, sweet, and ripe. The tannins are soft, ripe, and round. The fruit has a creamy edge in the finish, with just a bit of chewiness to the berries, making it deceptively easy to drink. Yet this can age for 2 decades. The wine was made from a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. 13.25% ABV. Drink from 2027-2043. 92-94 Pts.

Vinous

93-95

byAntonio Gallonithe4/30/2024

The 2023 Clos du Marquis might very well be the best Clos du Marquis I have ever tasted. A wine of freshness and verve, the 2023 is all nuance. Sweet red plum, blood orange, spice, flowers, mint and white pepper are all finely cut. The 2023 shows more vibrancy, less oak extraction and more refined tannins than in the past. It’s a glorious wine in every way. This early tasting is hugely promising. Clos du Marquis could turn out to be one of the real surprises of 2023.

Vinous

91-93

byNeal Martinthe4/29/2024

The 2023 Clos du Marquis was picked from September 6 to October 5 at 44hL/ha and matured in 50% new oak. It has a complex bouquet, comprising a mélange of red and black fruit, cedar and subtle touches of violet—very charming. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grip. It’s a little creamy in texture on the entry, but there is solid backbone and a saline finish. This is very promising.

The Wine Independent

89-91

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/28/2024

The 2023 Clos du Marquis is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a little swirling to coax out classic notes of cassis, fresh plums, and cedar chest followed by hints of graphite and Provence herbs. The medium-bodied palate is energetic and refreshing, with grainy tannins to support and a lively finish. The blend is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc. The alcohol is 13.5%.

Alexandre Ma

94-95

byAlexandre Mathe4/28/2024

Wine Advocate

91-93

byWilliam Kelleythe4/26/2024

The 2023 Clos du Marquis is a rather serious, structured wine, evocative of cherries, dark berries and kirsch, framed by a touch of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied and fleshy but structured, it's a taut, concentrated wine that will reward some patience.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96

byJames Sucklingthe4/25/2024

This offers beautiful blackcurrants and blackberries with hints of chocolate and walnuts. Medium- to full-bodied with vivid acidity that adds tension and freshness to the mid-palate. It’s full of life and vibrancy, very fine and polished, and with nicely integrated tannins. Long finish. 56% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 9% cabernet franc. What will be better between 2022 and 2023?

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

byJane Ansonthe4/15/2024

Squid ink, cassis, bilberry, roses, love the intensity and gorgeous salinity of this wine. Captures the sense of energy and florality in the best Cabernets of 2023, although retains the austerity that you expect from this site in its early years. First vintage in the new cellars, moving from 40 vats to 80 vats, with 30 microvinification vats. Harvest September 6 to October 5, 50% new oak for ageing, 44hl/h yields.