Clinet 2019 (1.5L)

"The 2019 Clinet has maintained the stunning delineation that I discerned from the barrel sample. Pure black cherries, hints of cassis and wilted violet scents unfold in the glass with effortless ease, and the oak (75% new, 25% used for 18 months) is neatly integrated. The poised palate is medium-bodied, taut and fresh, with fine-grained tannins and disarming mineralité, particularly toward the finish, which delivers tremendous length and saliva-inducing salinity on the aftertaste. There is a pleasing strictness to this Clinet that is apposite to the flamboyant and decadent wines of the Nineties. This Clinet is one of Ronan Laborde's great achievements." 02/22

95 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2019 Clinet is fabulous, just as it was in barrel. A wine of substance and depth, the 2019 has a sense of poise that is so appealing. Crushed flowers, spice, menthol and dried herbs add pretty savory top notes. The 2019 is impeccable from start to finish." 02/22

A full-bodied Pomerol with dark-fruit, coconut, chocolate and hazelnut character on both the nose and palate. Fine-tannined with an intensely tight and chewy texture. Spice at the end. Very flavorful and muscular, yet it’s balanced and precise with well-toned form. Needs five or six years to resolve. Try after 2027.

97 Points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter: "So seductive and heady on the nose, depth and layers of aroma, really quite captivating, luring you in. Excellent tension and clarity on the palate while also having a plump and fruity core and a softly voluptuous mouthfeel. There is an undercurrent of fresh minerality giving a sense of linearity and precision with juicy, ripe, fragranced fruit filling the palate giving body and weight so you get this push pull interplay of cool, wet stone grip and playful yet dark and seductive fruit. Tannins are ripe and supportive again giving structure but not too much weight. Such Pomerol glamour on show in the best way. It's a dark style, one where you feel the ripeness and the alcohol a touch on the finish but well packaged and presented. I really love it. Drinking window: 2026 - 2046" 03/22

97-100 Points, Jeb Dunnuck: "An 80/20 split of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon that will spend 16-20 months in 75% new French oak, the 2019 Château Clinet sports a dense purple color as well as a stunning bouquet of blackcurrants, mulberries, unsmoked tobacco, chocolate, damp earth, camphor, and who knows what else. Beautifully textured, flawlessly balanced, and full-bodied, it builds incrementally on the palate and has perfectly integrated acidity and tannins, no hard edges, and world-class purity of fruit. It shows the mix of power and elegance that makes this vintage so compellingly. Don't miss it." 6/20