2021 Chateau Clinet - Pomerol AC

Decanter.com – 95 pts - GH: *Floral and lifted nose, clean, clear and fragrant. Soft but grippy, chalky and intense, with a push and movement to the textured strawberry and red cherry fruit. Almost fleshy but cool, giving some roundness but no heaviness. This has character and something to get your teeth into. Nice persistence, well presented.* - 11/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 93 pts – PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Edelholzwürze, Nelken und Vanille, dunkle Kirschen, ein Hauch von Pflaumen, kandierte Orangenzesten. Mittlerer Körper, wieder Zwetschken, gut integrierte Tannine, etwas Nougat, mineralischer Abgang, noch etwas statischer Stil, wird von Flaschenreife profitieren.* - 05/2022

The Wine Advocate – (93-95) pts – WK: *At 75% Merlot and fully 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Clinet contains the highest proportion of Cabernet in the blend (excepting the 2003) since at least the 1980s. Ronan Laborde harvested late, picking into mid-October, to craft a medium to full-bodied, deep and impressively seamless wine evocative of dark berries, baking chocolate, violets and spices. Concentrated and nicely integrated, it is one of the vintage's notable successes.*

WeinWisser – 18+/20pts – GL, TW: *75 % Merlot, 25 % Cabernet Sauvignon. Verspieltes Bouquet, frischgepflückte Himbeeren, zartes Veilchenparfüm, Nougatpralinen, dahinter getrockneter Thymian und Flieder. Am dicht verwobenen Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, herrlicher Extraktsüße, reifem Tanningerüst und durchtrainiertem Körper. Im gebündelten, langanhaltenden Finale rotbeerige Konturen, Preiselbeergelee und edle Earl Grey-Note. Kann noch zulegen. Bravo President!* – 04/2022

JancisRobinson.com – 17/20pts – JH: *75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Inky core with purple rim. Dark-fruited and slightly charry on the nose. Savoury, dry, refined. Lovely tannins here – firm but polished, holding the fruit in shape. 2021 may have produced some more restrained right-bank wines but this has lovely balance. Best Pomerol of the tasting but don't look for classic Pomerol plushness.* - 11/2023

quarin.com – 94 pts - JMQ: *Couleur sombre, intense et pourpre. Nez très aromatique, au fruité pur et mûr. Moelleux en entrée de bouche, savoureux au milieu, avec du goût et un profil juteux et suave, le vin grandit en finale. Il s'achève long, sur une jolie trame tannique enveloppée.*

JamesSuckling.com – (93-94) pts - JS: *Firm, lightly chewy yet creamy tannins. Savory bark and herb notes. Cloves and licorice, too. Medium body with a polished, lengthy and firm finish. Compact.*

Vinous.com – 94 pts – AG: *The 2021 Clinet is bold, explosive and dense. A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 is a rich and ample wine of tremendous energy and tension. This represents a modern style of Pomerol that will drink well upon release and also age.* - 12/2023

Vinous.com – 93 pts – NM: *The 2021 Clinet has a relatively light nose compared to other vintages: blackberry, wild mint, touches of graphite and just a slight herbaceous note that becomes more accentuated with time. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins and fine acidity, quite spicy compared to its peers with, again, just a little greenness toward the finish (albeit less evident on a second bottle that shows more refinement). You feel that it's got something to offer a couple of years down the line, so give it some time in bottle.* - 11/2023