2023 Château Clinet, Pomerol, Bordeaux

75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cask sample.

Good, deep colour. Ripe and concentrated on the nose. Good depth of fruit on the palate. Fine tannins provide structure and persistence. Not the most concentrated Clinet but fresh and balanced. Shows some ageing potential.

Drink 2030 - 2043

The 2023 Château Clinet is flat-out gorgeous, and it's certainly going to be up near the top end of the pyramid in the vintage. Based on Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a deep ruby/plum hue as well as ripe, darker red and black fruits, roasted herbs, graphite, chocolate, and spring flowers. These carry to a medium to full-bodied Pomerol with a round, seamless mouthfeel, present, ripe, polished tannins, and outstanding length. While it clearly plays in the lively, elegant style of the vintage, it packs plenty of muscle and depth.

The 2023 Clinet was picked from September 13 to 26 at 42hL/ha and aged in 80% new oak. It has a very appealing bouquet, quite pure with vivacious red cherries, crushed strawberry and violet scents. The oak is neatly integrated. This is almost Saint-Émilion in style. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and a fine bead of acidity, lightly spiced with a crisp and linear finish. This is a delightful, composed Clinet that should drink well after four to five years.

Drink 2027 - 2047

With ripe red fruit and spicy aromatics, this wine gets off to a fine start, with a brisk attack packed with ripe red berry and plum fruit. I also like the freshness, tension and a long finish. But it shows rather firm tannins with some drying extraction. Conservative score, as we await the final result after the barrel ageing.

Drink 2026 - 2043

The 2023 Clinet is powerful and racy right out of the gate. Crushed flowers, spice, mocha and a kiss of French oak meld into a core of dark red- and black-toned fruit. This modern, stylish Pomerol is so expressive. Hints of graphite, lavender, crushed rocks and pencil shavings linger on the substantial finish. Tasted two times.

Drink 2030 - 2048

Rich and layered, the 2023 Clinet wafts from the glass with aromas of dark berries, spices and licorice, framed by creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, deep and complete, with a rich chassis of powdery tannin underpinning its sweet core of fruit, it concludes with a broad, vanillin-inflected finish. As is routinely the case at this address, it's a successfully rendered Pomerol in a more modern style.

This is full-bodied yet tight and poised, with a pretty, pure center-palate of ripe fruit and fine, integrated tannins. Classy presence. May be better than 2022.

The 2023 Clinet has a deep garnet-purple color. It slowly emerges from the glass with wonderfully fragrant scents of dark chocolate, violets, plum preserves, and blueberry compote, leading to hints of kirsch and rose oil. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers energetic black and blue fruit layers, with a velvety texture and lively backbone, finishing long and perfumed. Beautiful!

Drink 2029 - 2050

Deep rich plum in colour, great balance and careful extraction, you are held by steady hands here. Cloves, cocoa bean, liqourice, freshly cut dried herbs, thyme and fresh sage, slow-build and slow progress with slate-textured tannins. A great quality Clinet, well judged appellation typicity, and floral kick on the finish. 80% new oak, 42hl/ha yields.

Drink 2030 - 2048