Chateau Leoville Las Cases - Clos du Marquis 2017

JAMES SUCKLING: "Wonderful aromas of blackberries, flowers, violets and Indian spices. Medium to full body with extremely polished, tight tannins that interface well with the ripe fruit. Remains extremely long and focused. A blend of 72% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot and 1% cabernet franc. Better after 2023."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The grand vin is the 2017 Clos Du Marquis, which is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and a splash of Cabernet Franc. This stunning wine lends credence to the idea that Saint-Julien was the sweet spot for the Medoc in 2017. Classic Cabernet cassis and blue fruit notes as well as ample minerality, violets, and chocolate notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, beautifully polished Saint-Julien that has ripe tannin, terrific balance, and a great finish. It’s going to have 25+ years of prime drinking."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Solid tannins come from the vineyard, giving this dense, concentrated wine with a powerful structure and blackberry fruits. The wine's future is assured, with richness, spice and fruitiness all coming together. Drink from 2023."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Since 2007, the Clos du Marquis comes from an entirely different vineyard in Saint-Julien than the Leoville Las Cases, so it is not a second wine. And there was only a small amount of frost on the western edge of this vineyard in 2017. A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Clos du Marquis is medium to deep garnet-purple in color and struts confidently out of the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blackcurrants, warm blackberries and fresh black and red plums with touches of cigar box and bouquet garni. Medium-bodied, the palate is chock-full of zingy black fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long with a skip in its step."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet colored 2017 Clos du Marquis springs from the glass with vivacious notes of crushed red and black currants, fresh blackberries, and violets, plus suggestions of underbrush and cedar. Medium-bodied, the palate is bright and lively with soft, grainy tannins and just enough youthful red and black fruit expression, finishing with a skip in its step."

WINE SPECTATOR: "A fresh, pure style, with violet and cassis aromas leading off, followed by a racy core of raspberry, blackberry and black currant fruit. Very well-integrated, featuring a deeply embedded structure and a singed apple wood note skirting along the edges. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2035. 8,333 cases made."

WEINWISSER: "Tiefes Granat mit violettem Rand. Duftige Schattenmorellen, dahinter helles Edelholz und getrocknete Pflaumenschalen. Am mittleren Gaumen mit straffem Tanningerüst, stützende Muskeln, feinkernige Noten zeigend. Im eleganten Finale mit getrockneten Kirschhäuten und parfümiertem Pfeifentabak."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung, zart nussig-kräuterwürzig unterlegte dunkle Waldbeerfrucht, reife Herzkirschen. Saftig, feine Mineralität, rote Waldbeeren, integrierte Tannine, zart nach Nougat im Abgang, elegant, wird bald antrinkbar sein, ein frischer Speisenbegleiter."

DECANTER: "This takes its time, has a fairly hefty structure and unfurls at its own pace. The last day of harvest was 4 October, but the overall growth cycle was early so they were able to wait for full ripeness, and even though the fruit flavours are savoury, they are intense. It certainly has some bounce and energy, and the balance is there too. An enjoyable wine that should be ready to drink within four to six years, but the low pH and good freshness suggest it should also age well. 55% new oak barrels. 80% of production, with the rest going into the second wine."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Cedar, oak, spice and fresh, red fruits with just a bit of soft tannin in the background, give this wine character and structure. Two or three years will be more than ample to bring out the secondary nuances and notch this up to full potential."