2016 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, Case of 6 btls

JD99 "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." JD

JA98 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.