Léoville-Las Cases St-Julien Clos du Marquis 2016

95 points Jeb Dunnuck: "From the considerable talents of the Léoville Las Cases team, the 2016 Clos du Marquis is made from 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that was raised in 60% new French oak. This full-bodied, concentrated, incredibly elegant Saint Julien has the purity and balance that’s the hallmark of the vintage as well as loads of underlying structure and depth. Great notes of ripe black cherries, blackcurrants, spring flowers, and graphite all emerge from this beauty, which is going to be one for the ages. It will need 8-10 years of cellaring and keep for three decades. Drink: 2027-2057. (2/28/19)"

95 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "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! Drink: 2025-2048. (12/8/22)"

95 points/'Le Coup de Coeur,' La Revue du Vin de France: "2016 will be a landmark vintage. It's a wine of superb definition, with bright fruit and intense red and black fruit flavors on the palate. Admirable length. (2020)"

95 points James Suckling: "This has a very suave, fresh and upbeat feel overall, with freshly baked berry pastry and ripe raspberry, boysenberry and red-plum aromas in abundance. The palate has a superb array of rich, fresh and deeply fruited tannins that roll smoothly into the elegant, focused and perfectly balanced finish. Try from 2023. (1/18/19)"

94 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2016 Clos du Marquis is just as compelling from bottle as it was from barrel. Inky, deep and explosive, with superb depth and impeccable balance, the 2016 is fabulously delicious. One of the things I admire most about the 2016 is an uncanny ability to deliver serious flavor intensity without excess heaviness. This is a stellar effort from Jean-Hubert Delon and his team. Drink: 2022-2036. (Jan 2019)"

94 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "Blended of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Clos du Marquis has a very deep garnet-purple color and is a little broody to begin, giving way to notes of crushed blackcurrants and black cherries with touches of warm plums, pencil shavings, earth and new leather with a waft of yeast extract. Medium-bodied with a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins, it has bold fruit matched by freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. Drink: 2021-2038. (11/30/18)"

94 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2016 Clos du Marquis was picked from September 30 to October 19. It has a generous, intense bouquet of blackberries, raspberry confit, cedar and light tobacco scents, representing a serious step up from the La Petite Marquise (as it should). The palate is rounded and quite sumptuous on the entry, and beautifully balanced, with a fine bead of acidity. This is a very fresh, tensile Clos du Marquis displaying superb precision on the finish and great persistence. Give it three to five years in bottle and then enjoy over the next 20 years, possibly more. Drink: 2022-2045. (Jan 2019)"

94 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "The blend of this wine, from vineyards inland of those belonging to Château Léoville-Las-Cases, is 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. The élevage was for 17 months, using 50% new oak. This has a much more convincing colour than La Petite Marquise, going from red to black here. The nose is dark, concentrated and perfumed, with sweet touches of vanilla and coffee bean, while the palate feels very composed, understated at first, but impressive through the middle, with supple fruit draped over a classic structure of grained tannins. A very composed, slightly juicy style, but one full of charm, with very elegant silky fruit blanketing a very traditional structural bed of tannins. This is delightful. (Dec 2018)"

94 points Wine Spectator: "This has a plush edge of warm tar and ganache that slowly melds into the core of steeped plum and cassis flavors as they move through, picking up smoldering charcoal and graphite notes along the way. A very grounded wine that will age nicely. Best from 2023 through 2038. (3/31/19)"

94 points Tim Atkin, MW (Apr 2017).

93 points/'Editor's Choice,' Wine Enthusiast: "This wine is dense with dark tannins as well as the elegance associated with the appellation. It comes from a vineyard that has been separated out from the Léoville las Cases estate. Packed with tannins as well as blueberry and blackberry fruits, the wine will develop well over several years. Drink from 2023. Alcohol 13.5%. (May 2019)"