TN: 2001 Clos du Marquis

[Rieslingfan]

Remember when you could get Clos du Marquis for less than the price of dinner for two...

The 2001 is drinking very nicely right now. It's showing lots of fruit, and the tannins have mellowed a little bit. From my glacially paced cellar it can still use 3-4 more years to start developing meaningful secondary elements, but it's very easy to drink right now.

[alchemeus]

Interesting,

I think I may have some 1995 CdM in the cellar. Haven't tried one in years and it was kinda closed and tannic then (hmm, around 2001?). I did buy a case of the 1998 ($250) and have 3 or four left.

Huh, just what are these going for now?

[Rieslingfan]

The 2006 is $46 around here. The 2005 was $50. The 2003 is languishing on some shelves locally for $50.

[JimHow]

Yeah i bought one of those 2005s for $49, I personally didn't like it, but I seem to be in the minority on that one.

[alchemeus]

Yeah i bought one of those 2005s for $49, I personally didn't like it, but I seem to be in the minority on that one.

Jim,

I've always found this wine to be a young drinker. Second wine of a second growth, no matter what one thinks.

Just me. I've often been wrong. But I don't care.

[JimHow]

Agreed, Alch, I went through about three cases of the "96 Clos du Marquis before it was ten years old.

[Rieslingfan]

The 2001 is drinking very well now. I'm not advocating changing one's drinking preferences, but it is quite delicious (and more approachable than it was 3 years ago).

[Rieslingfan]

The comment "second wine of a second growth" got me thinking. I buy all sorts of wines from folks who make a "reserve" a "goldkap" or some other special version of the wine I normally buy. In some cases doesn't that really make the regular release at least a 1.5 wine? I know (all too well) that German Gold Capsule releases are generally more affeted by botrytis, from specific plots, etc., what about those wineries that take the best barrels (e.g. Pride) and siphon them off for the Reserve program?

Clos Du Marquis may be a second wine, but a second growth ain't no slouch, and at $21.99 (I checked & that's what I actually paid on futures) it sure is (was) affordable as opposed to a $65 Cal Cab where the best juice is taken away.