Clos du Marquis, St Julien,

The 2020 Clos du Marquis is composed of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it skips out of the glass with vivacious notes of kirsch, black raspberries, and cassis, leading to suggestions of lavender, crushed rocks, and fragrant soil. The medium-bodied palate is energetic and refreshing, with grainy tannins and a good intensity of red and black berry layers on the finish.

The 2020 Clos du Marquis, matured in 40% new oak, has something almost genteel on the nose, very harmonious, almost "laid back" as lilting blackberry, cigar humidor, loamy aromas unfurl in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a pleasant salinity on the entry, moderate depth, well balanced with black pepper and sage towards the structured finish. There is a sense of confidence about this Clos du Marquis that should see it age well over 20 to 25 years. Excellent.