Clos du Marquis 2005 Chateau Leoville Las Cases

Clos du Marquis 2005 is a red wine from Château Léoville Las Cases in the Saint-Julien appellation, made in the classic Left Bank style using Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grape varieties as a base. The designation second wine is purely formal. Since the grapes are sourced from a different vineyard, Clos du Marquis is in fact a distinct wine, first produced in 1902.

The 2005 vintage was a hot, dry year across the entire Bordeaux region; while it was even drier than 2003, temperatures did not reach such extremes. Rain fell at the necessary times: on the 17th of August in the Right Bank, the 25th of August in the Médoc, and again on the 8th and 25th of September. After that, sunny days and cool nights continued through October, which allowed the harvest period to be extended, enabling the growers to wait for phenolic ripeness (not just sugar content, but also tannins and color) to fully develop.

This is reflected in the wine poured into the glass. Aromas of ripe, rich blackberries; tannins that are substantial yet not astringent; and an alcohol content of 14-14.5%, which was the talk of the town at the time but is now considered standard. This is the type of wine that needs years in bottle to realize its true potential. It is best enjoyed by 2030.

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