Tasting Notes
Robert Parker 96
The Clinet 1989 has a perfumed nose with intense violet aromas that explode from the glass, followed by macerated dark cherries, incense and creme de cassis. The palate is full-bodied with a velvety texture. It has an intensity that is second to none, a penetration that gives the senses no option but to heed its complexity and generosity. Compared to the magnum served last year, this bottle example is a little further down its evolutionary path with hints of molasses and mushroom on the finish. It is a great Clinet with doubt, although large formats will now be the real deal. Tasted December 2013.
JancisRobinson.com 16
Mid ruby – not that concentrated. First bottle badly TCA-affected. Second bottle very senior. Tastes more like something from the 1960s! Drying finish.
Anticipated maturity: 1990-2000
Vinous 95
The 1989 Clinet is the vintage that put this Pomerol estate on the map thanks to a perfect score from you-know-who. While I have never encountered a perfect bottle myself, a magnum hinted that it was not beyond the realm of possibility, though I have found bottles to be a bit hit-or-miss. This bottle is one of the better examples. It features kirsch, cassis and crushed violets on the nose, like a Margaux with the dial turned up to eleven (and I mean that in a positive way.) There is some VA here, but it merely gives kick to the aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied with a rich, precocious entry and generous sloe and brown sugar notes, very deep and rounded. A slightly volatile finish offers marvelous length. I suspect that to really experience the 1989 Clinet at its peak, you need to find perfectly cellared larger formats, although clearly bottles can be a thrill. Tasted blind at lunch in London.
Anticipated maturity: 2019-2033
