2016 Ch Clinet, Pomerol

The 2016 Clinet is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon that was picked from 22 September for the young vines, the older vines picked 1 and 2 October, finishing with the Cabernet Sauvignon the following day. It was cropped at 49 hectoliters per hectare and matured in 70% new oak and the remainder in second-fill barrels. It has 14.15% alcohol and a record-breaking 94 IPT. It has a very linear bouquet, quite strict and intense with a light iodine and marine scent merging with the black fruit. This is a more "aristocratic" nose for Clinet, sophisticated and one of the most nuanced I have encountered. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin that forms the foundation of a more masculine Clinet, complex and focused with a subtle spiciness coming through on the finish, which fans out with confidence and leaves a disarming, saline tang in the mouth. Yes, this is a magnificent Clinet, cool and mineral-soaked, both cerebral and lip-smackingly delicious.

96-98 points Neal Martin for The Wine Advocate

This is medium- to full-bodied with aromas of chocolate, earth and dark fruit. Velvety yet expansive tannins. This is youthful and approachable, but will improve with bottle age. Drink from 2028. 10 Years On retrospective.

96 points Jacobo García Andrade for James Suckling

Among the great estates of Pomerol, Château Clinet has earned a reputation for producing some of the appellation's most captivating Merlot based wines. Situated on the renowned gravel and clay plateau, the estate combines exceptional terroir with meticulous vineyard management to craft wines of richness, precision and remarkable longevity. Under the ownership of the Laborde family, Château Clinet has become one of Bordeaux's modern benchmarks, admired for its depth, elegance and consistency.

The exceptional 2016 vintage ranks among Bordeaux's finest, producing fruit of extraordinary purity, freshness and balance. The estate's old vines, rooted in the famed clay and gravel soils of Pomerol, delivered Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon of exceptional concentration while retaining vibrant energy. Careful élevage has created a wine of superb harmony that promises decades of graceful evolution.

Deep garnet with youthful ruby highlights, the bouquet is intensely aromatic with black cherry, plum and blackberry layered over violets, truffle and dark chocolate. As the wine unfolds, notes of cedar, espresso and warm spice emerge, adding complexity and unmistakable Pomerol character. The palate is rich yet impeccably composed, revealing velvety dark fruits, cashmere fine tannins and a beautifully defined mineral core. Powerful without excess, the finish is seamless and persistent, lingering with savoury spice, floral perfume and exceptional finesse.

A magnificent partner for beef Wellington, roast duck, herb crusted lamb, wild mushroom dishes or mature Comté. Already magnificent with extended decanting, this outstanding Pomerol has the pedigree and structure to reward patient collectors for decades.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2055.