Description
96 points James Suckling: Dark fruit and blueberries with rosemary, tobacco and incense undertones on the nose. Very St.-Julien and classic in style and character. It’s full-bodied with firm, polished tannins. The palate is savory and balanced, leading to a long, flavorful finish. Very beautiful, refined fruit character to this with focus and polish.
95 points Jeb Dunnuck: A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Clos Du Marquis offers a brilliant nose of ripe black cherries, smoked tobacco, cedar pencil, and violet-laced aromas. These carry to a full-bodied, rich, concentrated 2018 with plenty of background oak, a juicy spine of acidity, rock star levels of concentration and mid-palate depth, and ripe, silky tannins. Given its tannins and acidity, it’s not for those seeking instant gratification, and a solid decade of cellaring is going to be warranted.
94 points Wine Spectator: Pure and expressive, with beautiful aromas of violet, warm cassis and fresh cherries leading into a mix of plum sauce and blackberry preserve flavors carried by a well-imbedded graphite spine. Subtle kiss of sweet bay at the very end. Lovely.
94 points Vinous: The 2018 Clos du Marquis is so expressive, and frankly, delicious. In 2018 there is a bit more richness than typical, but that is 2018. A rush of inky dark fruit, graphite, lavender, spice, crushed rocks and smoke all race out of the glass. All the elements are so impeccably balanced. The 2018 spent 16 months on French oak, 55% new. It is one of the hidden gems in this vintage. I would give it a few years to soften, as the tannins are imposing.
