Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A full-bodied red with blackberries, chocolate, spices and earth. Soft and layered tannins. Flavorful finish. So juicy and beautiful.
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Jeb Dunnuck
As to the red, the 2015 Clos Marsalette is close to an even split of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon that saw 40% new barrels. This beauty offers excellent purity and freshness, as well as a sexy, supple, forward, fruit-loaded style that makes it a joy to drink. Black cherries, lavender, violets, and hints of bay leaf all emerge from the glass, and despite its upfront sex appeal, it’s going to keep for a decade.
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Wine Spectator
Fresh, ripe and polished, featuring cassis and plum fruit flowing through over a bright mineral edge. Light sanguine and violet notes gild the finish, with the fruit lingering prettily. Very pure.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Recognized for its superior reds as well as whites, Pessac-Léognan on the Left Bank claims classified growths for both—making it quite unique in comparison to its neighboring Médoc properties.
Pessac’s Chateau Haut-Brion, the only first growth located outside of the Médoc, is said to have been the first to conceptualize fine red wine in Bordeaux back in the late 1600s. The estate, along with its high-esteemed neighbors, La Mission Haut-Brion, Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pique-Caillou and Chateau Pape-Clément are today all but enveloped by the city of Bordeaux. The rest of the vineyards of Pessac-Léognan are in clearings of heavily forested area or abutting dense suburbs.
Arid sand and gravel on top of clay and limestone make the area unique and conducive to growing Sémillon and Sauvignon blanc as well as the grapes in the usual Left Bank red recipe: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and miniscule percentages of Petit Verdot and Malbec.
The best reds will show great force and finesse with inky blue and black fruit, mushroom, forest, tobacco, iodine and a smooth and intriguing texture.
Its best whites show complexity, longevity and no lack of exotic twists on citrus, tropical and stone fruit with pronounced floral and spice characteristics.