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Clinet 2010

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Sauvignon

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Label

Tasting Notes

The blend is largely dominated by 85% Merlot, with some Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Cabernet Franc also included. Inky/purple-colored, the wine has an exceptionally full-bodied, layered, moderately tannic mouthfeel and impressive power. Loads of melted chocolate/fudge and black fruits galore along with some coffee bean, mocha, as well as some background oak are all present in this big, formidably endowed, masculine style of Pomerol that will take longer to shed its tannin than the 2009. I would give this wine 5-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 30+ years.

The 2010 is another fabulous effort from this estate of just over 20 acres located in the sector named the same as the chateau, Clinet. Modest yields of 38 hectoliters per hectare produced a final blend that hit 14.4% natural alcohol.

96+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, March 2013

Gorgeous nose with lots of dark fruit like plum and blueberries. Crushed pepper and chalk with wild strawberries and vanilla. Dense and velvety on the palate with superbly polished tannins and great depth. It's absolutely gorgeous now but needs at least five to six years of bottle age to really shows its great quality.

97
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2013

Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Clinet rolls sensuously out of the glass with notes of Black Forest cake, blueberry compote and plum preserves plus hints of cigar box, cardamom and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals pleasant poise with loads of savory sparks on the finish. 2020 - 2041.

95
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (March 2020), March 2020

Rather savoury, meaty nose. Sweet velvety start and rather lighter on the palate than some of its peers. Slightly pinched tannins on the end but this is not overdone. Tasted blind it would represent 2010 Pomerol pretty efficiently. Still needs a bit of time though. 14%
Drink 2022 – 2040

16.5+
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2020
95
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2011

Dark, rich and powerful. Good attack. Undoubted depth and reserve but I prefer the balance and charm of the '09. Bit more extraction this year? Drink 2018-2035.

17
James Lawther MW, Decanter.com, April 2011
Read more tasting notes...

A spectacular success in this vintage, this blend of 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc achieved 15% natural alcohol. Sadly, there are only 3,400 cases primarily because of the small Merlot crop (yields were only 29 hectoliters per hectare). The wine's opaque purple color is followed by an extraordinary bouquet of boysenberries, blueberries, black currants, licorice, truffles and a hint of asphalt. The wine possesses great intensity, a multidimensional mouthfeel, stunning glycerin and richness, and wonderful freshness as well as precision because of the vintage conditions. This massive Pomerol will age effortlessly for 30-35 years. Equaling what Clinet achieved in 1989 and 1990, it is the third successive great vintage for this estate.

95/98
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (194), May 2011

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Clinet 2010 has a tempting truffle-scented bouquet with fine delineation - crushed violets developing beautifully in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp red berry fruit on the entry, fine angular tannins with a tart but focused, tense finish. This is a fabulous Clinet from Ronan Laborde and his team, although I suspect that the 2009 Clinet may eventually turn out to be the superior wine. Tasted January 2014.

94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2014

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. The Clinet 2010 is blessed with a compelling bouquet with ripe, succulent small dark cherries, blueberry and cassis that show outstanding control and delineation. There is a femininity here that I have not discerned on recent vintages. The palate is voluminous and complex with exuberant black fruit, cassis, black pepper and spice, the finish showing immense control and persistency. Outstanding - the kind of Pomerol fit for the finest Essex restaurant! Tasted November 2012.

96
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2013

Tasted somewhere (but I cannot remember exactly where) the Clinet 2010 has a precocious nose that soon settles in the glass: very pure dark cherry and blueberry fruit with touches of black olive and vanilla, building in intensity but remaining composed. The palate is full-bodied with ripe "clingy" tannins that do not want to let go and yet the texture of smooth and seductive. Don't be fooled by the first half. Those tannins kick in towards the second with a surprising dry, taut, tar-tinged finish. This is a complex Clinet that will really show its true colours after bottling. Well done Ronan! Tasted March 2011.

94/96
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2011

Nothing on the palate and then all of a sudden it blasts off on the finish. Superb Clinet. Full and velvety. Juicy.

95/96
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2011

Blackish crimson. Such ripeness it's almost cheesy on the nose. Then very firm on the palate - verging on inkiness. A real backbone here! This wine's two faces don't seem to be talking to each other yet. It may get there in the end…?

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2011
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.