2024 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol

The 2024 Clinet is a dark, stylish wine. Black cherry, lavender, spice, licorice and blue-toned fruit are beautifully delineated. Dark and vibrant in the glass, with terrific depth, Clinet is super-expressive in 2024. Ronan Laborde bled the musts to bring the wine into the rich, textured style he seeks here. Clinet is a rare Pomerol that is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the Cabernet very much in evidence.

Rich sweet damson and raspberry fruit, vanilla bean, caramel, the gourmet side of Pomerol is checking in, which we have missed in many, the tannins are sleek and well extracted, no dilution through the palate, good job. No need to wait too long - a good introduction to this property. 35hl/ha yield. Ronan Laborde owner. Tasted twice.

The 2024 Clinet was picked from September 23 to October 4 at 38 hl/ha and matured in 60% new oak. The bouquet opens with red and black fruit, pencil shavings from the Cabernet and light tertiary scents in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. The oak is neatly integrated and benefits from slightly less new wood, which allows the terroir to show through. Cohesive toward the finish with decent length, this is a thoughtfully produced Clinet that will age well in bottle.

The 2024 Clinet, incorporating a significant percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, is one of the denser, more muscular wines of the vintage, offering up aromas of blackberries, vanilla pod and creamy oak. Medium to full-bodied, deep and extracted, it's tannic and lactic, with a chewy, Bourbon-inflected finish.

80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cask sample. Dark crimson hue. Expressive nose and palate with dark- and red-fruit notes. Light to medium weight but the fruit bright and zesty. Tannins present behind, the finish firm and persistent. Balanced. (JL)