Notes of strawberry and coffee amidst the blackcurrant aromas, with hints of spices and forest fruits. The attack is smooth, effortlessly charming, with pure blackcurrant fruit and waves of strawberry and plum, then already a middle section featuring dark cherry and vanilla, before a long, rising finish dominated by juicy blackberry, with silky tannins keeping it all in check. Delicious.
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What a disappointment. I am a great fan of the 2016 Potentsac, so I was hoping that this would be better. Alot of bitterness on the front end, and even after some time no improvement on the bitterness. Sad. Wife said she tasted lots of stems. She thought it was ok. Have 5 more bottles.
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92+ -- not really different from my last outing. This is drinking extremely well right now. Decant for 1 hr and consumed over an hour at dinner with friends. At it's price point represents excellent value.
Would I buy again: Yes
92+ with development potential to 93-94 by 2026/7.
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What we were hoping for when we opened the 2016 Clerc Milon on Christmas Eve (but were disappointed). Fuller-flavored and fuller-bodied, with black fruit (cassis, black currant, plum) and cedar dominant. Tannins there but mostly relaxed, Medium-long, dry finish with the through line of black fruit. Still somewhat metallic in the middle or would have scored higher.
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Reticent was the best way to express my approach to this almost 2nd label when I popped it, because as we all know it's in that expected winter sleep phase. Plus JLev's less than stellar reviews made me wonder if I would be popping something that was best suited for a 55th year college reunion instead of a friends gathering to watch Southern Charm. Thankfully I had nothing to fear and my oh my but did it go fast!
Under optimum conditions I would recommend an hour plus decant but on this evening we didn't need it as from the beginning the wine was bright and lively, with surprisingly controlled tannins and a laser sharp fruit focus. This is simply just beautiful fruit oomph in the making and yes, letting it rest for another decade won't make you regret it for the here and now it's got some early bubbling cassis magic really pushing the envelope of top notch Bordeaux. For those thinking that we didn't care enough to make this an exercise in scientific discovery we left about two fingers in the bottle for day two and were richly rewarded for doing so. The cassis got even more lively and the slight tannic bite disappeared almost altogether and was replaced with a nice hint of velvety fruit with a hint of mature paddock. I'm really starting to believe in the magic of this exemplary vintage and can only exhort those who want to grab more to get out there and find some of these little treasures on the secondary market.
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The 2016 Marquis Dazzles in the glass, great legs, purplish color and texture very soft and refined - very reminiscent of the vintage. It's a powerful wine at the same time, no loss of weight here at all. Great aging potential too I would bet. Can access it now, enjoy the ripe cherries and excellent structure this wine showcases. One of the best Marquis ever for sure. I standout wine that may get 95-96 points in years to come as it matures. Lovely now though.
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The Clos du Marquis ist medium ruby colored. On the nose there are pronounced aromas of blackberries, dark cherries, cedar wood, smoked bacon, leather. The wine is developing. The acidity is medium(+). The tannins are also medium(+) and have a very good quality. The body is medium. The flavors are similar to the nose. Additional there are sour cherries. The finish is long. This Bordeaux is at the beginning of its drinking window. I decanted the wine for 4 hours which was worth it. I will open the next bottle in 2 years at the earliest. Glass I used: Josephine No 3.
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These recent bordeaux vintages are drinking so so well young. This is probably not quite in its prime yet - still a bit chewy tanins and some integration needed, but still fresh and pretty approachable. Drinking GREAT now, probably some upside in a few years.
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Harley nailed it... nose is very aromatic with notes of spice, leather, tobacco, herbs, red fruit... medium body and a darker shade of garnet in the glass... needs about an hour or so to come around... on the palate more spice, herbs, menthol, leather, red fruits, a hint of oak... very lively and fresh wine... I like it... short finish as mentioned below but lingers in a soft, pleasant way on the palate for 40-60 seconds... tannins are balanced and the wine has a nice acidity... we had it with grilled USDA Prime NY Strip and a traditional Greek salad and it paired up nicely... nothing like a solid St Julien with a great steak. I think this wine is fine to drink now with a little air but can easily spend another 5-10 in the bottle and appreciate in complexity etc. I got a case of this from B-21 via a 'private offer' and took a chance having never bought anything from this estate (which I believe has some affiliation with Leoville Las Cases). I will probably buy some more, most likely their 2018. For $80.00 it delivers what I would expect at that price point. Also, I really like their label, looks good on the shelf. Very good and well-made wine... 92-93 with potential to 94.
A blend of 73% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, 55% new oak. Ripe and glossy red fruit, good density, lovely hint of oak spice, fresh and lively, richly textured, fruitcake, impeccable balance and Saint-Julien typicity, shapely with good fleshy volume, nicely integrated tannins, refreshing and minerally finish. Excellent.
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Some great tasting notes on this one. Pretty much agree with Harley and CSIMM - terrific aromatics, with full throttled red berries, lead pencil and spice. Palate is flavorful but somewhat thin and metallic, leading to a disappointingly short, tart finish. Tannins very well behaved until the end; as others observed, making it right for beef bordelaise. Not sure how much better this gets with age, but have a couple of bottles and expect to find out.
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By the glass. Demanding bottle that requires patience on one hand and full enjoyment on the other. The nose is deliciously aromatic, with fruity and spicy notes. The palate needs to be rounded and show the characteristic fineness of this terroir that seems abandon this current closed texture that seems to need knife and fork and a tannic texture that hides its true potential. Matter of style.
Por copas. Una botella exigente que requiere por una parte paciencia y por otra pleno disfrute. En nariz es deliciosamente aromática, con notas frutales y especiadas. Al paladar necesita redondearse y mostrar la finura característica de este terruño y abandonar esta actual cerrada textura que parece necesitar de cuchillo y tenedor y una tanicidad que oculta su verdadero potencial. Cuestión de estilo.
(at The Elkridge Club - Baltimore) This is terrific young Bordeaux. Really shows well in this classic vintage. Plenty of fruit that is understandably coiled. So much energy and a lot of depth. Should be even better in 10 years and magic in 20. This is a very serious bottle of wine. Well done. (93+)
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A fairly typical young St Julien, with higher register red and black fruit, sour crunchy cherry, red currant, dried cranberry, and cedar. Acidity takes the stage currently, with an inability to truly express much depth of flavor at the moment. Mostly verve, tension, and speed skating the juvenile fruit across the palate. Finishes with an acidic clamp and slight hollowness. It’s enjoyable in its ability to provide cut to heavier dishes, but it needs 5-7+ years. I suspect this will end up as less of a deep or unctuous animal, and more of a lighter-medium bodied specimen when all is said and done. Even with its youth, I was hoping to experience a bit more personality here in which to offer a better glimpse into the promise of this wine. Time will tell. 89-91+ points.
UPDATE: I bumped this up to 91-92+ after the last bit of a bottle had been slowly exposed to air over a prolonged period (Coravin'd over multiple days and then finally opened toward the bottom of the bottle) and started to show more signs of promise. Deeper cassis and licorice notes add interest. Acid is still a bit shrill and enamel-scraping, but its persistence in undeniable. Depth is in the distance, but not completely out of the picture. Still, this is going to need decent cellar time.
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Deep ruby red colour. Medium nose with cedar, dark plum, eucalyptus, blackcurrant, licorice and pencil. Medium Taste of dark plum, blackcurrant, eucalyptus, pencil, licorice and cedar. Long and dry finish. High acidity. High tannins. Medium body. A very good St. Julien that deserves at least five to ten years more to develop further. Goes well with beef or lamb.
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note and score from day 2 after pop, recork and keeping cool for 20 hrs very dark red with medium rim, not much blue nose is very attractive: berry skin, some licorice red blue spectrum sour fruit-acid also in the nose keeps it lively palate has soft attack refreshing sour finish with very good fruit. Amplitude is not flat, but otherwise not overwhelmingly exiting . good length
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The wine resembles its big brother without the same level of concentration. Medium/full-bodied and loaded with fresh, chewy, bright cassis, the tannins are ripe, polished and the palate enjoys the splash of all that sweet, vibrant red fruit. Give it a few years in the cellar, if you can wait that long. This completes with several much more expensive classified growths!
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Granddad’s tobacco-scented sweater caught in a volcanic eruption of plum and syrupy black currants is the first thing you’ll sense before you align with the gentle, ready tannins and the boatloads of thirst-quenching cassis. This wine has excellent character and ample fresh fruit in the finish. From a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.55% alcohol and will be aged in 50% new French oak barrels.
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4/19/2024 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine: 94 Points
Notes of strawberry and coffee amidst the blackcurrant aromas, with hints of spices and forest fruits. The attack is smooth, effortlessly charming, with pure blackcurrant fruit and waves of strawberry and plum, then already a middle section featuring dark cherry and vanilla, before a long, rising finish dominated by juicy blackberry, with silky tannins keeping it all in check. Delicious.
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2/25/2024 - PSanDiego Does not like this wine:
What a disappointment. I am a great fan of the 2016 Potentsac, so I was hoping that this would be better. Alot of bitterness on the front end, and even after some time no improvement on the bitterness. Sad. Wife said she tasted lots of stems. She thought it was ok. Have 5 more bottles.
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2/14/2024 - brennan18 Likes this wine: 92 Points
92+ -- not really different from my last outing. This is drinking extremely well right now. Decant for 1 hr and consumed over an hour at dinner with friends. At it's price point represents excellent value.
Would I buy again: Yes
92+ with development potential to 93-94 by 2026/7.
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12/25/2023 - vino_per_tutti Likes this wine: 92 Points
What we were hoping for when we opened the 2016 Clerc Milon on Christmas Eve (but were disappointed). Fuller-flavored and fuller-bodied, with black fruit (cassis, black currant, plum) and cedar dominant. Tannins there but mostly relaxed, Medium-long, dry finish with the through line of black fruit. Still somewhat metallic in the middle or would have scored higher.
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11/22/2023 - Mr.Overhill Likes this wine: 94 Points
Reticent was the best way to express my approach to this almost 2nd label when I popped it, because as we all know it's in that expected winter sleep phase. Plus JLev's less than stellar reviews made me wonder if I would be popping something that was best suited for a 55th year college reunion instead of a friends gathering to watch Southern Charm. Thankfully I had nothing to fear and my oh my but did it go fast!
Under optimum conditions I would recommend an hour plus decant but on this evening we didn't need it as from the beginning the wine was bright and lively, with surprisingly controlled tannins and a laser sharp fruit focus. This is simply just beautiful fruit oomph in the making and yes, letting it rest for another decade won't make you regret it for the here and now it's got some early bubbling cassis magic really pushing the envelope of top notch Bordeaux. For those thinking that we didn't care enough to make this an exercise in scientific discovery we left about two fingers in the bottle for day two and were richly rewarded for doing so. The cassis got even more lively and the slight tannic bite disappeared almost altogether and was replaced with a nice hint of velvety fruit with a hint of mature paddock. I'm really starting to believe in the magic of this exemplary vintage and can only exhort those who want to grab more to get out there and find some of these little treasures on the secondary market.
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7/28/2023 - Marquis du Vin Likes this wine: 93 Points
The 2016 Marquis Dazzles in the glass, great legs, purplish color and texture very soft and refined - very reminiscent of the vintage. It's a powerful wine at the same time, no loss of weight here at all. Great aging potential too I would bet. Can access it now, enjoy the ripe cherries and excellent structure this wine showcases. One of the best Marquis ever for sure. I standout wine that may get 95-96 points in years to come as it matures. Lovely now though.
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12/31/2022 - EricU Likes this wine: 93 Points
Elegant. Casis and blueberries. Fine tanins. Really came together on day 2.
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12/30/2022 - Lanzelot Likes this wine: 93 Points
The Clos du Marquis ist medium ruby colored. On the nose there are pronounced aromas of blackberries, dark cherries, cedar wood, smoked bacon, leather. The wine is developing. The acidity is medium(+). The tannins are also medium(+) and have a very good quality. The body is medium. The flavors are similar to the nose. Additional there are sour cherries. The finish is long. This Bordeaux is at the beginning of its drinking window. I decanted the wine for 4 hours which was worth it. I will open the next bottle in 2 years at the earliest. Glass I used: Josephine No 3.
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12/14/2022 - MuddyBear Likes this wine: 93 Points
These recent bordeaux vintages are drinking so so well young. This is probably not quite in its prime yet - still a bit chewy tanins and some integration needed, but still fresh and pretty approachable. Drinking GREAT now, probably some upside in a few years.
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12/9/2022 - brennan18 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Harley nailed it... nose is very aromatic with notes of spice, leather, tobacco, herbs, red fruit... medium body and a darker shade of garnet in the glass... needs about an hour or so to come around... on the palate more spice, herbs, menthol, leather, red fruits, a hint of oak... very lively and fresh wine... I like it... short finish as mentioned below but lingers in a soft, pleasant way on the palate for 40-60 seconds... tannins are balanced and the wine has a nice acidity... we had it with grilled USDA Prime NY Strip and a traditional Greek salad and it paired up nicely... nothing like a solid St Julien with a great steak. I think this wine is fine to drink now with a little air but can easily spend another 5-10 in the bottle and appreciate in complexity etc. I got a case of this from B-21 via a 'private offer' and took a chance having never bought anything from this estate (which I believe has some affiliation with Leoville Las Cases). I will probably buy some more, most likely their 2018. For $80.00 it delivers what I would expect at that price point. Also, I really like their label, looks good on the shelf. Very good and well-made wine... 92-93 with potential to 94.
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10/21/2022 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
A blend of 73% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, 55% new oak. Ripe and glossy red fruit, good density, lovely hint of oak spice, fresh and lively, richly textured, fruitcake, impeccable balance and Saint-Julien typicity, shapely with good fleshy volume, nicely integrated tannins, refreshing and minerally finish. Excellent.
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9/16/2022 - libero wrote: 91 Points
Good wine, but, below my expectation
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1/1/2022 - vino_per_tutti Likes this wine: 92 Points
Some great tasting notes on this one. Pretty much agree with Harley and CSIMM - terrific aromatics, with full throttled red berries, lead pencil and spice. Palate is flavorful but somewhat thin and metallic, leading to a disappointingly short, tart finish. Tannins very well behaved until the end; as others observed, making it right for beef bordelaise. Not sure how much better this gets with age, but have a couple of bottles and expect to find out.
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6/13/2021 - Harley1199 wrote:
By the glass. Demanding bottle that requires patience on one hand and full enjoyment on the other. The nose is deliciously aromatic, with fruity and spicy notes. The palate needs to be rounded and show the characteristic fineness of this terroir that seems abandon this current closed texture that seems to need knife and fork and a tannic texture that hides its true potential. Matter of style.
Por copas. Una botella exigente que requiere por una parte paciencia y por otra pleno disfrute. En nariz es deliciosamente aromática, con notas frutales y especiadas. Al paladar necesita redondearse y mostrar la finura característica de este terruño y abandonar esta actual cerrada textura que parece necesitar de cuchillo y tenedor y una tanicidad que oculta su verdadero potencial. Cuestión de estilo.
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2/10/2021 - DBenke wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic dark fruit. Soft, round, delicious. Very good
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8/28/2020 - dbkitc wrote: 93 Points
(at The Elkridge Club - Baltimore) This is terrific young Bordeaux. Really shows well in this classic vintage. Plenty of fruit that is understandably coiled. So much energy and a lot of depth. Should be even better in 10 years and magic in 20. This is a very serious bottle of wine. Well done. (93+)
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5/20/2020 - csimm wrote: 92 Points
A fairly typical young St Julien, with higher register red and black fruit, sour crunchy cherry, red currant, dried cranberry, and cedar. Acidity takes the stage currently, with an inability to truly express much depth of flavor at the moment. Mostly verve, tension, and speed skating the juvenile fruit across the palate. Finishes with an acidic clamp and slight hollowness. It’s enjoyable in its ability to provide cut to heavier dishes, but it needs 5-7+ years. I suspect this will end up as less of a deep or unctuous animal, and more of a lighter-medium bodied specimen when all is said and done. Even with its youth, I was hoping to experience a bit more personality here in which to offer a better glimpse into the promise of this wine. Time will tell. 89-91+ points.
UPDATE: I bumped this up to 91-92+ after the last bit of a bottle had been slowly exposed to air over a prolonged period (Coravin'd over multiple days and then finally opened toward the bottom of the bottle) and started to show more signs of promise. Deeper cassis and licorice notes add interest. Acid is still a bit shrill and enamel-scraping, but its persistence in undeniable. Depth is in the distance, but not completely out of the picture. Still, this is going to need decent cellar time.
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4/20/2020 - SuperSomm wrote:
Deep ruby red colour. Medium nose with cedar, dark plum, eucalyptus, blackcurrant, licorice and pencil. Medium
Taste of dark plum, blackcurrant, eucalyptus, pencil, licorice and cedar. Long and dry finish. High acidity. High tannins. Medium body. A very good St. Julien that deserves at least five to ten years more to develop further. Goes well with beef or lamb.
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1/29/2020 - otto60 Likes this wine: 93 Points
note and score from day 2 after pop, recork and keeping cool for 20 hrs
very dark red with medium rim, not much blue
nose is very attractive: berry skin, some licorice red blue spectrum sour fruit-acid also in the nose keeps it lively
palate has soft attack refreshing sour finish with very good fruit.
Amplitude is not flat, but otherwise not overwhelmingly exiting .
good length
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9/21/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
The wine resembles its big brother without the same level of concentration. Medium/full-bodied and loaded with fresh, chewy, bright cassis, the tannins are ripe, polished and the palate enjoys the splash of all that sweet, vibrant red fruit. Give it a few years in the cellar, if you can wait that long. This completes with several much more expensive classified growths!
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6/14/2019 - pren wrote: 90 Points
尝。不overtly polished。有特色。
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4/29/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Granddad’s tobacco-scented sweater caught in a volcanic eruption of plum and syrupy black currants is the first thing you’ll sense before you align with the gentle, ready tannins and the boatloads of thirst-quenching cassis. This wine has excellent character and ample fresh fruit in the finish. From a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.55% alcohol and will be aged in 50% new French oak barrels.
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