2017 Clos la Madelaine
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Clos La Madeleine is bold and racy in the glass. Super-ripe red cherry and plum fruit give the 2017 a real sense of lusciousness. Sweet tobacco, cedar, mint, dried flowers, herbs and small red berries develop later, adding lovely shades of intrigue. Clos La Madeleine is an especially ripe Saint-Émilion, just as it was en primeur, but it is also succulent, silky and incredibly delicious for what it is: a juicy Saint-Émilion to enjoy over the next decade or so with no pretense.
Critic scores
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Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Clos la Madeleine was not touched by frost in this year when Ets J-P Moueix acquired the vineyard just prior to the harvest. Consequently Edouard Moueix reminded me that their team had no influence on the viticulture. It offers straightforward dark berry fruit on the nose, perhaps a little monotone compared to some of its peers. The palate is more promising with a tang of sour cherry on the entry, gentle grip with quite an edgy and vibrant finish. It closes better than expected and it should give a decade of drinking pleasure.
Medium ruby-hued, with plenty of ripe black cherries, damp earth, and leafy herbs notes as well as a hint of chocolate, the 2017 Clos La Madeleine shows the more fresh, focused, classic style of the vintage nicely. A blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, it's medium-bodied, has a silky texture, no hard edges, and a great finish. Drink it any time over the coming 10-15 years.
The 2017 Clos La Madeleine, now under the ownership of J-P Moueix although, they stressed that there are no plans to amalgamate it with Bélair-Monange, has a fragrant bouquet with red berry fruit, a touch of vanillary oak that will be subsumed during barrel maturation, nicely defined with a citrus like element. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, quite saturated tannin, a keen thread of acidity and touches of graphite developing on the linear finish. It is not a deep or powerful Saint-Émilion but I admire the focus here.