Château Clinet 2023

Ripe-fruited, deep, dark berries, noble roasted note; fruity attack, then turns taut, noticeable tannins, lots of freshness, shows drive and breed, long finish. Less monolithic, more elegant than in earlier years.

With ripe red fruit and spicy aromatics, this wine gets off to a fine start, with a brisk attack packed with ripe red berry and plum fruit. I also like the freshness, tension and a long finish. But it shows rather firm tannins with some drying extraction. Conservative score, as we await the final result after the barrel ageing.

75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cask sample. Good, deep colour. Ripe and concentrated on the nose. Good depth of fruit on the palate. Fine tannins provide structure and persistence. Not the most concentrated Clinet but fresh and balanced. Shows some ageing potential. (JL)

The 2023 Clinet is fabulous. It is one of the most refined, silky Clinets I can remember tasting. Cool blue-toned fruit, lavender, spice, mocha and rose petal caress the palate. The balance here is just sublime. The 2023 feels a bit less heavy and oaky than some previous editions, very much a positive in my view.

It is the striking floral bouquet that initially hits you with its showy display of lilacs, violets, smoky, spicy, cherry, plum, licorice, orange rind, and chocolate-mint nuances. The rich palate is energetic, vibrant, long, and lifted. The wine immediately displays its opulence, with layers of lush, ripe, rich, dark red fruits and chocolate, leaving you with sensuous end notes in the finish. In the cellars, this is the first vintage with a pre-maceration cool-down helping protect the grapes from oxidation. The wine blends 75% Merlot with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2028-2055.

Dark ruby, deep core, purple reflections. Delicate wood savouriness, black cherries, candied violets, mandarin zest in the underlay. Medium body, some berry fruit, integrated tannins, fine acidity, salty finish, balanced, a refined food wine.

Deep, rich plum in colour, with great balance and careful extraction; you are in steady hands here. Cloves, cocoa bean, liquorice, freshly cut dried herbs, thyme and fresh sage; a slow build and gradual progression with slate-textured tannins. A great-quality Clinet, with well-judged appellation typicity and a floral kick on the finish. 80% new oak, 42 hl/ha yields.

Score: 93–95. On the nose, an icy freshness counterbalances the heady depth of ripe fruits (cherry, blackcurrant, raspberry, blueberry), like a prima ballerina playing both the White Swan and the Black Swan in Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet. On the palate, a cashmere-like texture of supreme softness flows into every nook and cranny of the mouth, while the fruit, sumptuous and sappy, soothes and comforts. A mouthwatering finish with hints of musk rose.

This is a rich wine with a dark chocolate aroma, dense black fruits and fine concentration. Its solid, opulent texture goes with a core of powerful tannins to allow it to age well. Drink from 2028.

Embraces the fruit-forward style, offering up mouthfilling raspberry, boysenberry and black cherry compote flavors that are round and silky in feel. Flashes of anise and black tea add range, and there’s a seductive coating of melted black licorice on the finish. A subtle tug of ink at the very end keeps this honest. A strong effort. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2027 through 2040. 4,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.