2013 Château Clinet

Description

90-93   Antonio Galloni for Vinous
“The 2013 Clinet is terrific. Dark red and blue fruits, new leather, violets, menthol and sweet spices meld together in a wine of rare distinction for the year. This is one of the more pliant, expressive 2013s readers will come across. The finish is long, silky and polished. The oak needs time to fully integrated, but I don’t think that is going to be a problem. This is a terrific showing.” (4/2014)

91   James Suckling
“Aromas of black berry, blue berry, and wet earth. Full body, firm and silky tannins. A little hollow in the mid-palate but give it time to come together. Better in 2018.” (2/2016)

91   Neal Martin for Wine Advocate
“The 2013 Clinet was one of the better wines that I tasted from barrel. Indeed both Robert Parker and I scored this Pomerol around the same mark and now it is in bottle, it has fulfilled my expectations as a delicious, easy-going, but still well-crafted wine from Ronan Laborde. It has a delicate but precise bouquet that gains intensity in the glass, cassis and a touch of wild mint, ground pepper emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannin that need another 12-18 months to soften, however there is adequate fruit underneath with a linear, slightly sappy finish. Enjoy this over the next 10-12 years.” (10/2016)

91   James Molesworth for Wine Spectator
“This is sneakily deep and long, with bramble, licorice root and warm fruitcake notes enhancing a core of sappy kirsch, blackberry coulis and plum compote flavors. Everything pulls together nicely on the finish, though this needs time to stretch out fully. This has really beefed up since the barrel tasting. Best from 2018 through 2027.” (3/2016)