Clinet 2019

Sculpted, savoury, spliced-fruit feel, this stretches out through the palate with silky tannins layered up with cigar box, cocoa bean, espresso, sage and violet notes and a clear uplift of slate minerality on the drawn out finish. Luc Chassorieu is director of production, Ronan Laborde owner (this was his 17th harvest at Clinet). Bottled in June 2021; one month less ageing than in 2018. 80% new oak, 38hl/ha yield. This was Ronan's 17th harvest at Clinet, and contains more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than in 2018 (the vines are almost 70 years old now).

Tasted blind. Just a little earthbound and lacking vitality after wine number 8 (Ch Hosanna). Solid and not flawed but needs a bit of zip. 14.5%Drink 2027– 2040

The 2019 Château Clinet is brilliant stuff and another classic Pomerol from the talented Ronan Laborde. Deep purple-hued, with awesome notes of crème de cassis, mulberries, tobacco leaf, chocolate, and damp earth, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a round, seamless mouthfeel, and gorgeous tannins. It delivers that rare mix of elegance and sexiness that only Pomerol can. It needed plenty of air to show at its best and needs a good 4-6 years of bottle age, but it's going to evolve for 20-25 years or more. I love everything about this wine, and it's certainly in the same ballpark as the 2015, 2016, and 2018. And it remains incredibly well-priced given the quality. Don’t miss it.

80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Barrel sample.Purple-black hue. Concentrated cassis aroma, almost like a fruit liqueur. Palate more subdued but the fruit is generous and there’s plenty of zest and drive. Tannins and oak integrated. Clean, long finish. (JL)Drink 2027 – 2040

The 2019 Clinet is just so fragrant on the nose: black and red fruit vying for attention, iris and incense, touches of truffle in the background. The purity that Ronan Laborde and his team have achieved should be applauded. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, perfect acidity, brilliant focus and a killer sense of tension on the finish. This is a stunning Clinet, the best that I have encountered in barrel over 20 years of tasting. That creamy texture takes your breath away. Up there with the very best - a Clinet that rivets you to the spot. 2025 - 2060

A firm, silky red with blackberry, black-olive, green-olive and stone aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied with juicy fruit and a flavorful finish. The balance and texture of this wine is exceptional.

A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Clinet is deep garnet-purple colored. It charges out with vibrant blackberry pie, plum preserves, and raspberry pie with chocolate box and roses plus a hint of unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, it has lovely freshness, packed with bright, expressive fruits and wonderfully ripe tannins - so plush - finishing long and savory.

The 2019 Clinet is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested from the 23rd of September to the 3rd of October. The alcohol weighed in at 14.5%. It is aging in French oak barriques, 75% new, using the OXOLINE system in order to minimize stirring. It is expected to age in barrels for 16 months. Opaque purple-black colored, it bursts from the glass with bold scents of ripe black plums, blackberry pie and blueberry compote with an undercurrent of redcurrant jelly, raspberry preserves, licorice, molten chocolate and cardamom with a fragrant waft of red roses. The palate is rich, full-bodied and fantastically opulent, with layers of exotic spices emerging among all the black fruit preserves flavors, framed by velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and hedonic. 2027 - 2053