The 2005 Clos Du Marquis is terrific, offering both red and black fruits as well as lively minty herbs, chocolate, and gravelly earth-like nuances. Still relatively youthful and I’d wager in the early stages of its prime drinking window, it’s medium to full-bodied, has a great mid-palate, and fine, polished, integrated tannins. It’s a beautiful, classic expression of the estate that will evolve for another two decades.

A powerful, young, brooding wine even at 11 years of age. The aromatics are reticent, showing darker red fruits and cocoa powder, but with time things start to unravel showing a higher toned floral note. This is full-bodied, dense and rich, showing lots of dark savory fruits, mocha and espresso with brighter red fruit emerging from underneath. The tannins are fine grained giving a very good mouthfeel, yet are powerful and persistent, suggesting that this is still a very young wine and will benefit from a few more years in bottle. Give this another 3+ years and drink over the following decade. A wonderful wine with class and Breeding from the Leoville-las-Cases stable.

The Clos du Marquis 2005 is evolving into a little beauty. It has an opulent, downright sexy bouquet with macerated dark cherries, briary, mint interlaced with candied orange peel that is beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with sturdy tannin cloaked in spicy red fruit, hints of red peppercorns and graphite infusing the finish that fans out gloriously. Yet everything remains tightly controlled thanks to the tight rein on acidity. Cannot afford Léoville Las-Cases? Then you know where to come.

The superb second wine the 2005 Clos du Marquis reflects the utter brilliance of the 2005 grand vin. It boasts an inky/ruby/purple color along with a sweet perfume of lead pencil ripe cherries and black currants and hints of earth and vanillin. Dense chewy fleshy and full-bodied this beauty will be drinkable in 3-4 years and should keep for 15-20.

The 2005 Clos du Marquis has a fleshy and ripe bouquet with ferrous red berry fruit, undergrowth and light minty aromas. There is something almost South African about the aromatics! The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. Acidity countervails satisfying flesh on the mid-palate, and the fully mature finish with notes of meat juices and truffle oil suggests that this needs to be drunk in the next several years. Tasted at Léoville Las Cases. -- Neal Martin