CLOS DU MARQUIS 2nd wine of Ch. Leoville-Las-Cases, Saint-Julien 2017 Bottle

Description

Clos du Marquis second wine of Château Leoville Las Cases Saint Julien 2017 is a persuasive and generously proportioned claret that captures much of the estate’s Pauillac poise while offering earlier approachability. The colour is a deep ruby with a bright core. The nose opens with ripe blackcurrant, bramble and plum, scented by violet and a hint of graphite; with airing the bouquet broadens to reveal cedar, cigar box and gentle pencil lead, alongside savoury notes of olive tapenade and cured meat.

On the palate the wine is medium plus to full in weight with a generous yet refined mid palate and finely grained tannins that provide a secure backbone without harshness. Primary dark fruit of cassis and damson is complemented by a bright redcurrant lift that keeps the profile lively. Mid palate development brings savoury layers of smoked meat, soy reduction and dried herbs, while discreet oak seasoning adds clove, toasted spice and a faint dark chocolate note that integrates with the fruit. A cool saline mineral seam and a faint iron edge give focus and length to the finish.

The 2017 vintage in Bordeaux delivered ripe, concentrated fruit with polished tannins and clear acidity; at Clos du Marquis this translates into a wine that offers both immediate pleasure and the structure to age gracefully. Winemaking at Leoville Las Cases emphasises careful extraction and attentive élevage, resulting in a second wine that mirrors the grand vin’s character but with a more accessible temperament.

Approachable now with decanting, the 2017 will reward medium term cellaring as tertiary notes of leather, cedar and forest floor develop and knit with the fruit. Drink 2026 to 2038, peaking 2028 to 2034. Serve slightly below room temperature with roast lamb, chargrilled ribeye, beef daube, mushroom and truffle dishes or mature hard cheeses to complement the wine’s savoury depth and structured fruit.

JEB DUNNUCK 94 points
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. (2/2020)

JAMES SUCKLING 94 points
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.

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ABOUT CHATEAU LEOVILLE-LAS-CASES
Château Léoville Las Cases is one of Bordeaux’s most revered Second Growths from the 1855 Classification, located in Saint Julien where deep gravel soils and a temperate maritime climate favour powerful, finely structured Cabernet Sauvignon led wines. Renowned for density, precision and remarkable longevity, Léoville Las Cases is widely regarded as a benchmark of left bank style, combining concentration with an aristocratic sense of balance and minerality.

The estate is owned and managed by the Delon family, whose long term stewardship has prioritised vineyard renewal, scientific rigour and careful cellar craft. Jean Hubert Delon serves as the principal director and is centrally involved in both commercial strategy and technical direction, ensuring continuity of vision across vintages. The management team operates with a strong commitment to parcel level attention and to translating site variation into the final assemblage.

Vineyards extend across substantial, well delineated plots in Saint Julien, planted predominantly to Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in smaller proportions. Vine age varies across blocks and detailed parcel mapping, clonal selection and targeted replanting have been used to refine balance and to enhance the expression of individual sites. Viticultural practice emphasises strict yield control, canopy management and selective hand harvesting so that grapes reach physiological ripeness while preserving natural acidity and aromatic lift.

Winemaking is parcel by parcel and exacting in its execution. Fruit is rigorously sorted, vinified in small lots with temperature management and a precise extraction protocol designed to build tannic architecture without sacrificing purity. Elevage is carried out in French oak chosen by parcel to integrate tannin and to develop complexity over time. The estate has long benefited from external technical counsel, notably from experienced consultants whose input has contributed to the modern refinement of vinification and barrel regimes.

Stylistically Léoville Las Cases offers concentrated black fruit, cassis and graphite with cedar, spice and a mineral core, framed by fine grain tannins and persistent acidity. The wines show profound ageing potential and reward patient cellaring, remaining a cornerstone of serious Bordeaux collections and a standard for Pauillac and Saint Julien expression.