Château Clinet 2022 Pomerol

Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider)
(97-99)/100 punten
Inky, dark in color, the wine explodes from the glass with its floral display before moving to its wealth of dark red pit fruits, chocolate, truffle, wild cherry, and mint aromas. However, it is the velvet-drenched layers of dark fruit, opulent-textures, and cashmere tannins where the wine really takes off. The finish is pure hedonistic-decadence that must be felt to be believed. You have plenty of time to experience it as the fruits remain on your palate for over 60 seconds! This is Pomerol and Clinet at its best!

Jeb Dunnuck
(96-98)/100 punten
The 2022 Château Clinet showed beautifully, with an almost Médoc-like style in its darker cassis, graphite, cedar pencil, and tobacco aromas and flavors. Full-bodied on the palate, it has ripe, velvety tannins, a round, layered mouthfeel, and remarkable purity. Pomerol was one of the erratic appellations in 2022, but this beauty does everything right and brings a beautiful mix of richness and elegance. It should round into form with just short-term bottle age and evolve for two decades.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
(94-96+)/100 punten
A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that represents the earliest harvest in this estate's history (beginning on September 6), the 2022 Clinet is a success, offering up aromas of cherries and dark berries mingled with hints of spices and a discreet patina of new oak. Medium to full-bodied, ample and layered, it's impressively vibrant, with a rich core of fruit framed by powdery tannins from judicious extraction. This has more in common with the more refined 2018 and 2019 vintages at this address than with the powerhouse 2020, and that is no mean feat in an even more extreme vintage. Bravo to Ronan Laborde and his team.

Neal Martin (Vinous)
(94-96)/100 punten
The 2022 Clinet is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon picked from 6-21 September at around 34hL/ha. There were apparently many bunches, but the berries were small. Aged in 80% new oak and 20% 2nd fill barrels, the 2022 offers black fruit on the nose with traces of Japanese nori probably emanating from the Cabernet. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, well-judged acidity and a fine backbone that gently grips the mouth. This is a linear Pomerol with impressive delineation on the almost pastille-like finish. I appreciate this Clinet's persistence and discrete spiciness on the aftertaste. Excellent. But it is a vintage that requires time in bottle.

Decanter
96/100 punten
Streamlined and sleek, silky smooth but also gorgeously textured, clean and clear with grip and interest. Less fleshy and chewy than some, more charming and elegant with tannins that have a weight in the mouth. There is clear power and concentration underneath the juicy acidity with a straight backbone and direct energy from start to finish. Appealing layers of salinity, blackcurrant fruit, creamy vanilla, cool cola touches and crushed stones on the finish. Feels well made and sophisticated. 3.74pH. A yield of 34hl/ha. Earliest harvest ever starting on 6 September for Merlot and 20 and 21 September for Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW)
(94-96+)/100 punten
The 2022 Clinet is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, aging in 80% new oak. It was harvested from harvest from the 6th to the 21st of September and yields were 34 hl/ha. Deep garnet-purple in color, it storms out of the glass with powerful notes of plum preserves, crème de cassis, and boysenberries, leading with suggestions of sandalwood, mossy tree bark, sassafras, and mocha with a waft of tar. The full-bodied palate is rich and densely laden with black fruit preserves, supported by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and opulent. This is a wonderfully decadent wine that will be very long-lived but will require some patience.

James Suckling
(94-95)/100 punten
A very fine and polished red with silky tannins, medium body and a savory finish. Hints of hazelnut to the currant and berry fruit.

Jancis Robinson
17,5/20 punten
Intense crimson. Sweet, supple, hedonistic nose. Very smooth and seductive with, just, enough freshness and some rigour in the structure. Lots of tannin built into this ambitious wine although the sheer weight of ripe fruit distracts until the end of the palate. Should have a longer life than many of its peers.

Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux)
96/100 punten
Sleek, concentrated, red roses, violets, creamy smoked caramel, bilberry, cassis, blackberry pastilles, biscuit, mint leaf, great estate signature, maintains its sleek intense concentrated and supremely classy character. Strong tannic build up, muscular and full of intent, with a fennel and oyster shell signoff. Ronan Laborde owner.

Falstaff
97/100 punten
Dark ruby garnet colour with opaque core and purple reflections, delicate brightening on the rim. Subtle floral notes, dark berries and liquorice, black cherries, tangerine zest. Juicy, elegant, ripe cherries, fresh acidity, solid and ripe, supporting tannins, a balanced food wine of great length and with considerable ageing potential.