Clinet Pomerol 2016

99 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Tasted on four separate occasions, the 2016 Château Clinet is another brilliant wine from this estate. Showing slightly more freshness and purity than the 2015, its saturated purple color is followed by a thrilling array of crème de cassis, graphite, ground herbs, and a terrific sense of minerality. Deep, full-bodied, with building tannins, and a magical sense of purity and elegance paired with real density and depth, it needs short term cellaring and will keep for three decades. Drink: 2020-2050. (2/28/19)"

98 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Grilled sandalwood, vanilla bean, charcoal, damson and black cherry, here they get the balance exactly right between concentration and lightness of touch. Ytterly compelling, a great wine, layering brambled fruit against tighter juicy cassis and bilberry. Tannins remain grainy and slate-textured at seven years old, holding on tight, this much further to go over the next decade. I gave it 97 En primeur and this is an upscore. 65% new oak. 39hl/h yield. Ronan Laborde owner. Drink: 2025-2046. Alcohol 14%. (4/4/23)"

97 points Neal Martin (Wine Advocate): "The 2016 Clinet is composed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was aged using the Oxoline system, in 70% new and 30% one-year-old barrels for 16 months. It has a deep garnet-purple color with cedar and smoked meats on the nose giving way to black and red plums and earthy notions with wafts of cassis and pencil shavings. The palate is medium to full-bodied, elegant, polished and vivacious with loads of red and black fruit layers and an earthy finish. Drink: 2022-2052. (Nov 2018)"

97 points Jane Anson (Decanter): "This is a wine that makes you want to slow down, take your time and let those flavours envelop you. It's a little subdued right now, but the texture pulls you in and holds on tight. There is Cabernet in the DNA here and you feel it: a touch of austerity in the first breath, then an intense punch of dark, tight cassis fruits with a liquorice and dark chocolate finish. It's taken on more flesh on the bones during ageing, with the aromatics blossoming through the glass and revealing floral, violet-stained edging and a silky smooth tannic frame. Drinking Window: 2024-2040. (Jan 2019)"

96+ points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2016 Clinet, a blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, was cropped at 49hl/ha and matured in 70% new oak. It has a quintessential Pomerol bouquet of vibrant floral aromas, black cherries and hints of Christmas cake and truffle. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and very harmonious and refined. The sample at the château showed a touch more backbone than the one at the London UGC tastings, offering plenty of blackberry and black olive notes and then turning saline toward the dense, muscular finish. A classy, sophisticated Clinet that will reward those with the nous to cellar it for several years. Outstanding. Drink: 2020-2045. (Jan 2019)"

96 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "This is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, all the Cabernet Franc having now been pulled up here. The élevage was in 70% new oak. It has a very typical style for Clinet, showing an intense concentration on the nose, the flavour profile here shifted into dry red fruits, including dried cranberry and cherry, with a smoky and lightly caramelised edge. The palate has wonderful texture and seamless structure, despite it being underpinned by a wealth of ripe, firm and tightly knit tannins. Structured, but undeniably ripe, pure and fresh, this has a confidence which persists through to the finish. A very long end to it, the length infused with tannic energy. Overall, an impressive wine. (Dec 2018)"

95 points James Suckling: "Beautiful blue fruit and earth with hints of black truffle, this has a violet and fragrant edge, too. Really complex, youthful impression here. The palate has mouthwatering fruit flavor and terrific sense of fresh energy and cut on the finish. A blend of 90 per cent merlot and ten per cent cabernet sauvignon. Try from 2024. (2/3/19)"

95 points La Revue du Vin de France: "Clinet's style has become considerably more refined in recent years. Straightforward, sincere and complete, 2016 possesses intense, slightly chocolatey fruit, supported by a well-established structure. (2021)"

94+ points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2016 Clinet has a gorgeous bouquet of copious red berry fruit mixed with truffle and undergrowth scents, all fresh and vibrant. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and, like the L’Evangile that preceded it at this blind tasting, displays noticeable acidity. However, it is more knitted together than that wine, and it fans out wonderfully on a long, spicy, quite firm finish that prompted me to score lower than I might have done, because it remains a very fine Pomerol in the making. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Drink: 2024-2050. (Aug 2020)"

94 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2016 Clinet offers an intriguing combination of power and finesse. Iron, smoke, red cherry jam, blood orange and leather all power through in this racy, sensual Pomerol. In some moments, Clinet is silky and nuanced, while at other times a darker, more brooding side comes through. The 2016 has so much to offer. I would prefer to cellar it for at least a few years. Drink: 2024-2036. (Jan 2019)"