2005 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol 12x75cl

Vinous 89-92

Good full ruby. Sexy aromas of black raspberry liqueur, violet, chocolate, mocha and smoky oak. Dense, fat and large-scaled, with a layered texture and compelling sweetness of dark berry fruit. Very smooth if currently a bit youthfully monolithic. Finishes with substantial mouthcoating tannins that arrive late, allowing the chewy chocolate and mocha flavors to expand and linger. This will age on its alcohol and tannins, not its rather low acidity. Elevage should bring greater detail. [Stephen Tanzer, 05/01/2006]

Robert Parker 96

The opaque ruby/purple 2005 Clinet offers incredibly fragrant aromatics, an opaque ruby/purple color, and a wonderfully sweet nose of flowers, blackberries, licorice, truffle and caramel. Full-bodied, powerful and rich, it is not as nuanced or complex as the top four or five Pomerols, but close. This is a broad, meaty, masculine, super-rich and concentrated wine, with lavish plum, blackcurrants and blackberries. Drink it five years from now, and over the following 30 or more years. [19/06/2015]

Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050

JancisRobinson.com 17

Tasted blind. Light crimson. Lightly fragrant. Tea leaves. Much lighter than most. Might be difficult to identify blind as Pomerol. More like a Pessac-Léognan? Good balance and finish though. [23/02/2017]

Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028