2018 Chateau Clinet - Pomerol AC

Decanter.com – 97 pts – JA: *Closed and coiled right now, with ripped layers of fruit. A ton of graphite, bitter dark chocolate and finessed berry fruits. Definitely need to give this time and respect its muscular from. A seriously impressive Clinet that has held its form over ageing.* - 11/2020

Falstaff Magazin - 94 pts - PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Reife schwarze Kirschen, etwas Nougat, feine Holzwürze, mineralischer Anklang. Saftig, süßes Beerenkonfit, reife, gut integrierte Tannine, frisch, extraktsüßer Nachhall, gute Länge, zarter Schokotouch im Finale.* - 05/2019

*Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Clinet begins a little coy and then, with coaxing, opens out to vibrant black cherries, kirsch, baked plums and cinnamon stick scents with hints of cloves and anise plus earthy truffles and fungi wafts. Full-bodied and chock-full of bright, energetic fruit, it has a firm, finely grained structure and long, fragrant finish. The blend is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aging is anticipated to last for 16 months in French oak barriques, 75% new.* (94-96+/100)

Weinwisser – 18,5/20 pts - GL, TW: *Purpur mit breitem rubinrotem Rand. Kompaktes Bouquet mit Anklängen an Brombeeren, dahinter dunkle Terroirwürze, Kardamom, dominikanischer Tabak und Schokopastillen. Am mächtigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, fein körnigem Extrakt, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett, der Kraftprotz ruht in sich und ist sich seiner Stärke bewusst. Im konzentrierten sehr lang anhaltenden Finale mit Szechuanpfeffer und erhabener Adstringenz. Hier geht es folgerichtig einen halben Punkt nach oben!* – 04/2021

JamesSuckling.com - 95-96pts - JS: *This is a young red that really grows on the palate with so much dark fruit and firm yet luscious tannins. Full-bodied, it grows and grows on the palate. Extremely long and vivid. Solid as a rock. 15 per cent cabernet sauvignon, the rest merlot.*
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JamesSuckling.com - 96pts - JS: *Blackberries and blueberries with subtle black chocolate and violets on the nose, following to a full-bodied palate with polished, creamy tannins. Beautiful balance and really refined texture. Drink after 2024, but already so gorgeous.* - 01/2021

Vinous.com – 94 pts – AG: *The 2018 Clinet is a powerful, reticent wine that is going to need at least a few years in bottle to become approachable. Today, the tannins are especially forbidding, Inky dark red fruit, iron, cedar, mint, licorice and dried herbs give Clinet its signature profile marked by savory Cabernet Sauvignon aromas and flavors. This is a terrific showing from Clinet and proprietor Ronan Laborde.* - 03/2021

Vinous.com - 95pts - NM: *The 2018 Clinet, which was cropped at 38hl/ha, has an exquisite bouquet of lavish black cherry and raspberry fruit, and still those bunches of violets I observed from barrel, flanked by potpourri. The aromatics are well defined and the new oak seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit. It has firmed up since I tasted in barrel, when I noted that it felt like a "muscular" Clinet in the making. That trait is emphasized in bottle, and those accustomed to the more hedonistic Clinets of yore might find it a tad more reserved and drier. But it is a style that suits it well. White pepper leaves the mouth tingling after it has departed, the fitting conclusion to a superb - dare I say cerebral? - Clinet that has a long and prosperous future.* - 01/2021

Thewinecellarinsider.com – 97 pts – JL: *Deeply colored, the wine is intensely concentrated with layers of black, red and blue fruits accompanied by licorice, dark cocoa, truffle, flowers, espresso bean and hints of Asian spice. There is a fabulous sense of purity to the fruits that really comes alive when the layers of velvet-drenched fruits hit your palate. The wine is equally hedonistic and elegant, which is a hard thing to accomplish. The wine will age and evolve with ease for 3 decades.* - 03/2021