2017 Clos Saint-Julien
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Clos Saint Julien is a total knockout. Lavender, mint, inky dark fruit, spice, licorice, chocolate and leather all open up in the glass, but it is the wine's nuance and total sense of precision that impresses most. A wine of great delineation, the 2017 is simply brilliant. Don't miss it.
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Neal Martin
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Composed of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot, the 2017 Clos St Julien has a deep garnet-purple color and sings of warm red and black cherries, black raspberries and baked plums with rosehip tea, lavender and spice cake in the background. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals a firm, finely grained texture with a good core of juicy red and black fruits, finishing long and earthy.
The 2017 Clos Saint Julien, an equal blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, was picked at 30hl/ha. I find the aromatics here a little anonymous, which is a surprise given the proportion of Cabernet Franc. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, just a little dryness here, a hint of liquorice on the finish. This does not quite match more expectations from barrel.
From a tiny 1.2-hectare vineyard just across from Villemaurine, the 2017 Clos Saint Julien is a smoking good 2017 that checks in near the top of the heap in the vintage. Based on equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot, it reveals a deep purple color as well as stunning notes of plums, chocolate, licorice, and violets. This is a big, mouthfilling, medium to full-bodied effort that has gorgeous tannins and tons of character. Made by Catherine Papon-Nouvel (also the winemaker at Petit Gravet Aîne), it comes from tiny yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare and saw malolactic fermentation in barrel followed by 15 months in new oak. This brilliant 2017 is going to be off the charts with 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 15+ years in cool cellars.