Winemaker Notes
Blend: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 1%Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
As to the red, the 2021 Clos Marsalette has lots of red currants, hints of blue fruits, tobacco, and leafy herbs to go with a medium-bodied, round, nicely textured style on the palate. It has ripe tannins, terrific purity, and just a classy, balanced, satisfying style. Barrel Sample : 91-93
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Decanter
Lovely raspberry and herbal scents on the nose. Supple and generously fruited, the tannins are juicy and fine and this really gives some crushed stone nuances and lingering liquorice spice that rests on the palate. It's linear and defined with nice clarity of flavour, balance and sappy texture. Driving and persistent - still quite a lot of tension here, accentuated by the spiced core, but there's freshness throughout giving such mass appeal. Tasted twice. Drinking Window: 2024 - 2034.
Barrel Sample: 92 -
Vinous
The 2021 Clos Marsalette is bright and punchy, with tons of Cabernet character driving the feel. Savory and mineral notes abound. Dried herbs, menthol, licorice and lavender are finely sketched in this mid-weight offering. –Antonio Galloni
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James Suckling
A fruity and reserved wine with orange peel, dark berries and some chocolate. Medium-bodied with medium, round tannins. Nice brightness. Barrel Sample: 90-91
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.