The 2013 Château Clos du Marquis, from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, is a sophisticated red wine known for its balance and structure in a challenging vintage. As the second wine of Château Léoville Las Cases, it offers a commendable bouquet of lifted, brambly black fruit, bay leaf, and an intriguing seaweed note. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with ripe, aromatic blackberry notes, fine, elegant tannins, and a forward, spicy profile featuring fresh red plums and cherries. The wine’s high Cabernet Sauvignon content (73%) contributes to its great structure and juicy black-currant flavors, making it a very good effort for the 2013 vintage.
Food Pairings
The 2013 Château Clos du Marquis pairs well with:
- Red meats: Grilled or roasted beef, lamb, or venison, which complement its black fruit and structured tannins.
- Game and poultry: Duck, pheasant, or roast chicken, aligning with its spicy and floral notes.
- Hard cheeses: Such as aged cheddar or Comté, balancing the wine’s elegant tannins and fruit intensity. Its medium-bodied, forward style makes it versatile for savory dishes, particularly those with rich, herbaceous flavors.
Critics Reviews
Critic reviews for the 2013 Château Clos du Marquis (applicable to Magnum format):
- Wine Enthusiast: 92–94 (Barrel Sample). Noted for its ripe, aromatic blackberry notes with fine, elegant tannins and a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, giving great structure.
- CellarTracker: Described as a “forward, medium-bodied wine” with “spicy, fresh red plums and cherries,” drinkable on release but capable of short-term aging.
- Millesima: Praised for a “commendable bouquet with lifted, brambly black fruit, bay leaf, and an attractive seaweed note,” with a medium-bodied palate.
- Critics highlight the wine’s balance and elegance, noting it as a strong performer in the cooler 2013 vintage, though less concentrated than warmer years.
Drink Window
The 2013 Château Clos du Marquis is approachable now due to its forward, medium-bodied nature but benefits from the slower aging of the Magnum format (1.5L), which preserves freshness. Based on critic notes and the vintage’s lighter style:
- Drink Window: Now–2030. The wine is drinkable now, with its soft tannins and vibrant fruit, but Magnums may extend peak enjoyment to 2032 due to slower maturation.
Notes
- Magnum Format: Magnums (1.5L) are prized by collectors for slower aging, enhancing the 2013’s lighter, elegant profile. They are rarer than standard bottles, increasing their value.
- Vintage Context: The 2013 vintage in Bordeaux was cool and wet, producing lighter, more precise wines. Clos du Marquis is noted as a standout for its balance and structure in this challenging year.
