Jeb Dunnuck (94)

Based on 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon, the flagship 2017 Clos Des Lunes Lune D'Or Blanc is a tiny production cuvee from more clay and limestone soils, from tiny yields, that spent 18 months in 25% new French oak. It’s brilliant stuff, which should surprise no one who’s tasted the whites from Olivier Bernard’s Domaine de Chevalier. Awesome notes of caramelized citrus, white flowers, pineapple, chocolate, and crushed rocks all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, concentrated, straight-up classy white that does everything right. Give bottles another year or two and enjoy over the following decade.

Wine Advocate (90-92)

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Crafted with masterful precision in the lunar landscapes of Sauternes, the Clos des Lunes Lune d'Or Blanc 2020 is a sublime work of art. Brought forth by the revered Domaine de Chevalier, the blend is commonly composed of 70% Sémillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc, harvested by hand from old vines. It encapsulates time-honoured methods and incorporates modern winemaking technologies.

The Clos des Lunes Lune d'Or Blanc 2020 undergoes fermentation in French oak barrels, followed by 18 months of maturation to develop compelling complexity. This brilliant wine features a bright golden hue and alluring aromas of white flowers, citrus, and honey, laced with delightful minerality.

A trophy for any cellar, the Clos des Lunes Lune d'Or Blanc 2020 offers an exemplary taste of Bordeaux white - a rhapsody of layers and flavours that dance on the palate, with a crisp finish that lingers seductively. Your exploration of fine wine is incomplete without this treasure.

Drawing from the illustrious terroirs of Margaux, our Clos des Quatres Vents 2011 is a fine depiction of traditional vinicultural craftsmanship. Produced by the venerable Luc Thienpont, this extraordinary vintage boasts a lavish blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot. With a 20-month sojourn in oak barrels, the exquisite balance between strength and fruit garners laudable elegance.

Grown amidst the legendary vineyards of Bordeaux, the Clos des Quatres Vents 2011 mirrors the quintessence of its regal origin. The enchanting nose hints of ripe berries and cherries elegantly melded with subtle notes of spices and toasted oak. The deep, almost inky hue foretells the luscious array of opulent flavours, crowned by an enduring, harmonious finish.

Imbibers will struggle to resist the entrancing complexity of Clos des Quatres Vents 2011 as it offers a remarkable embodiment of Margaux's wine-making heritage.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)

The 2014 Clos du Clocher is a rich, intense wine that needs time to come together. There is plenty of depth in the fruit, yet the tannins remain incisive. Smoke, tobacco and grilled herbs lend aromatic nuance to the bold, dark finish. Tasted two times.

Wine Advocate (93)

Composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc coming mainly from clay soils on the plateau and aged for one year in oak, 65% new, the 2015 Clos du Clocher springs forth with profound notes of crushed blackberries, black cherries and blueberry compote plus touches of iron ore, bouquet garni, beef drippings and black soil. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated in the mouth, it fills the palate with generous black and blue fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with persistent minerally notes.

Vinous - Neal Martin (93+)

The 2016 Clos du Clocher has a rich, opulent bouquet with layers of macerated small black cherries, crème de cassis and violet aromas. There is brightness and vivacity here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, finely judged acidity, a slightly lactic texture and flecks of dark chocolate toward the finish, which fans out nicely. This will need time, but it is very promising. A composed and refined Pomerol from Jean-Baptiste Bourotte.

Decanter (97)

A stunning wine in 2022 showcasing star power in Pomerol and delivering one of the appellation’s clear successes. Beautifully fragrant on the nose, fresh and ripe black fruits, purple flowers, milk chocolate, salty stones and liquorice. Smooth, sumptuous and seductive in terms of texture - tannins are beautifully chalky and so well integrated - almost effortlessly supporting the concentrated fruit and giving the confident structure. Focussed and detailed but not tight or tense, really quite a special effort. Energy and mouthwatering acidity is in the background but it’s the texture that’s most captivating, velvety, chalky, ripe, fleshy and refined all at once. It manages to be understated in a year where it was easy to be anything but. I love it. 3.6pH. A yield of 39hl/ha. Harvest started on 7 September. Soft extraction with natural yeasts for fermentation. Ageing 55-60% oak barrels, 30% one wine barrels, and 7% in small concrete tanks and wine globes. Second year of organic conversion. Next year, 2024, Clos du Clocher will celebrate its 100 year anniversary having been founded by Jean-Baptiste Audy in 1924.

Wine Spectator (94)

The nose shows loads of plum, spice and meat aromas, as well as hints of licorice. It's full-bodied, with firm, yet velvety textured tannins. It's big and rounded. If you can't afford Las Cases, try some of this. Some might call this a second wine, but it comes from a plot of vineyards not deemed worthy of Léoville Las Cases. So it's like its own estate. Best after 2009. 20,000 cases made. -JS

James Suckling (93)

This is a mouthful, with loads of fruit and truffle character. Exotic and wild, but starting to close. Give this five years.

James Suckling (94-95)

This is the best Clos du Marquis ever made. Structured and very rich, with flavors of currants, berries, and flowers. A baby Las Cases. Full and fine, with firm tannins and a mineral character. More Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than before. Barrel sample.

The Wine Independent (95)

A blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Clos du Marquis has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It requires a whole lotta swirling to uncover notes of crème de cassis, blueberry compote, and chocolate-covered cherries, followed by hints of cardamon, spice cake, and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant and refreshing, delivering loads of black fruit and spicy layers, finishing long and fragrant. A sleeper of the vintage, this cellar-worthy Saint-Julien is worth seeking out!

The Wine Independent (95)

A blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Clos du Marquis has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It requires a whole lotta swirling to uncover notes of crème de cassis, blueberry compote, and chocolate-covered cherries, followed by hints of cardamon, spice cake, and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant and refreshing, delivering loads of black fruit and spicy layers, finishing long and fragrant. A sleeper of the vintage, this cellar-worthy Saint-Julien is worth seeking out!

Jeb Dunnuck (94)

The grand vin is the 2017 Clos Du Marquis, which is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and a splash of Cabernet Franc. This stunning wine lends credence to the idea that Saint-Julien was the sweet spot for the Medoc in 2017. Classic Cabernet cassis and blue fruit notes as well as ample minerality, violets, and chocolate notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, beautifully polished Saint-Julien that has ripe tannin, terrific balance, and a great finish. It’s going to have 25+ years of prime drinking.

Jeb Dunnuck (94-96)

Rocking stuff, the 2018 Clos du Marquis checks in 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that hit 14.5% alcohol with a healthy pH of 3.64 and an IPT of 79. It boasts a deep, saturated purple color as well as ripe, powerful, yet complex aromatics. Full-bodied and rich, with a stacked mid-palate, this beauty builds on the palate with ripe, polished tannin, ample oomph, and a great finish. It’s a powerful, concentrated wine from the team at Léoville Las Cases that will benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.

Decanter (95)

Fragrant and full with deep, rich, dark and silky tannins underpinned by great freshness. It has a smooth texture, the flavours of sweet but fresh and vibrant cherry fruit and a touch of menthol just gliding across the palate, supported by tight-knit tannins. High-toned with well-defined edges and a consistency from start to finish. You could drink this now for its rich but seductive charming fruit-forwardness.

Jeb Dunnuck (94-96)

Pure crème de cassis, tobacco, black cherries, lead pencil, and a wonderful sense of minerality emerge from the 2020 Clos Du Marquis, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, elegant texture, plenty of ripe tannins, and the vibrant, focused, lengthy style of the vintage front and center. It's going to need 4-6 years of bottle age, possibly more, but the balance, purity, and precision are all brilliant. The blend is 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, raised in 40% new French oak. The technical information checks in with the alcohol at 13.57%, pH of 3.76, and an IPT of 84. This will be a long-lived Saint-Julien!