Château Clinet 2022

Noble, complex, deep, dark-fruited, with fine roasted notes, chocolate, and tea; on the palate, densely structured yet less opulent than in previous years, showing more finesse and polish, with a long finish. An exceptionally charming Clinet.

Richly aromatic, with quite heady notes on the nose of blackcurrants, violets and dark chocolate. Silky smooth and really juicy on the palate, fun and fresh. I love the purity to the red berries, with both a subtle creaminess as well as razor‑sharp edges of graphite and liquorice minerality that give a tang and buzz to the palate. The energy here is lovely, really alive and focused with a clean sensation on the finish. Well delivered with character and lots of charm. Lovely.

Intense aromas of dark violets and blueberries as well as terra-cotta follow through to a full body, yet it’s tight and focused with beautifully framed fruit from polished tannins and a long and rather endless finish. A complete and fresh Pomerol in 2022. Drink after 2031.

The 2022 Clinet has a lighter nose than its peers, with red cherry and wild strawberry fruit, crushed stone and touches of black truffles. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, gentle grip, a little edgy though, overall a classic example of "less is more". Wonderful sapidity on the finish. Excellent. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

With a rich depth of color, you first notice the abundance of flowers, dark red pit fruits, chocolate, truffle, and hints of mint in the aroma. Richly textured, opulent, silky, and vibrant, the finish exudes hedonistic decadence with a racy edge, allowing you to experience layers of sensuous fruits on the palate that lead to a refreshing touch of tobacco and mint on the backend that must be felt to be believed. This is Pomerol and Clinet at its best! The wine blends 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2027-2060.

Dark ruby garnet colour with opaque core and purple reflections, delicate brightening on the rim. Subtle floral notes, dark berries and liquorice, black cherries, tangerine zest. Juicy, elegant, ripe cherries, fresh acidity, solid and ripe, supporting tannins, a balanced food wine of great length and with considerable ageing potential.

The Grand Vin from this terrific Pomerol estate, the 2022 Château Clinet, checks in as 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 19 months in 80% new barrels. It's a beautiful Pomerol that clearly ranks with the greats from this address, offering a vivid purple hue, classic notes of cassis, leather, graphite, and black cherries, full-bodied richness, and a layered, seamless mouthfeel. It's another remarkable 2022 that brings the richness and depth of the vintage while staying light on its feel and flawlessly balanced. It has plenty of upfront appeal even today, yet there's ample structure here as well, and it's going to evolve beautifully over the coming 30 years or more.

Clinet stands out for having Cabernet Sauvignon as the second grape variety in the blend, not Cabernet Franc. As ever with this wine, you can expect creamy dark fruits, bilberry and damson, with well-integrated oak even at this early stage, plus a kick of rosemary, sage, cloves, underbrush, liquorice, cocoa bean, espresso, briar, hedgerow, smoked caramel—great stuff. Ronan Laborde owner, 34 hl/ha, vinified in stainless steel, aged in oak.

The refinement of an elegant gentleman, the delicate freshness of a secret garden after the rain, aromas of dahlias and primrose, and mineral notes of stone and oyster shell combine to create a complex, delicate bouquet. Like a ballerina with fragile power, the palate offers a taffeta-like texture. The aromas complement and layer like a display of shimmering silks. The tangy finish makes you fiercely want to come back for more.

80% new barrels and 20% one-wine for the 2022 vintage. The bouquet clearly shows the élevage, yet it is far from dominant. It supports the wine and enhances the aromatic profile, highlighting nuances of cherries, dark berries, licorice, and mint. On the palate, mirroring the bouquet, the wine frees itself nicely from the élevage. It adopts a linear profile with muscular yet fleshy tannins, delivering well-framed, even elegant power. A precise and harmonious Clinet that calls for time to blossom while already showing both promising and convincing prospects. A great success with balance as its leitmotif.

Deep, intense colour with a slight touch of maturity. Very aromatic nose, with ripe, subtle fruit. A base of black fruit mingled with fresh fruit (raspberry). Then more floral with a swirl of the glass. Full-bodied on the attack, full-bodied through the mid-palate, the wine melts across the palate into a vanilla-tinged, flavoursome finish. It’s irresistible. The best ever, along with the 2018.

This is an impressive Merlot-dominated wine. Its richness marked by dark coffee aroma and bold tannins are indications of a seriously ageworthy wine. It finishes with succulent black fruits and a firm texture. Drink from 2028.