2011 Château Clinet
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Tasting notes
Dark plums and cocoa. Very bright and juicy and the fine, firm tannins are beautifully managed. A lovely Pomerol.
Critic scores
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
A high proportion of Merlot, this majors on silky red and black fruits, with edges of tobacco and black truffle, crushed rose petal and saffran. A little more abrupt on the finish than the 2009 and 2010, relecting a dry year, with the amount of new oak for ageing brought down to 55%. Ronan Laborde owner.
The 2011 Clinet has a perfumed nose, quite floral and perhaps more Saint-Émilion in style rather than Pomerol, though I appreciate its mineral undertow. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly more pliant tannins, fresher than its peers with spicy red fruit with a bitter but focused finish. This is a fine Clinet that is drinking perfectly now, though many vintages surpass this in recent years. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.
Tasted blind. Deep blackish garnet with age at the rim. Aromas of rare roast meat on the nose. Then sweetness and really round fruity appeal. The tannins have receded and this is fun, and has some further potential. (JR)
About the producer
With Ronan Laborde at the helm, this property has become one of Pomerol’s most sought-after. He has increased the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, which historically represented half the vineyard area here.