Ripe blackcurrants, leafy tobacco, iron, and some meaty notes all emerge from the 2005 Château Clinet, a deep, rich, powerful 2005 made from 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in 60% new barrels. Offering ripe, velvety, yet building tannins, full-bodied richness, and an incredible finish, it's a stunning 2005 that offers incredible pleasure today yet has a solid two decades of prime drinking ahead of it.

Welcoming ruby red in colour, this is the vintage of Pomerol that I suggest to anyone looking for a great wine to drink right now, as it's just at such a sweet spot. Clinet is right up there among the best of the appellation, still vibrant with cassis and fennel but showing the genersosity, leather and clove-studded damson and blackberry fruits that reflect the unhurried harvest of the year. Edges of dark chocolate and liqourice that are classic for the best wines of the appellation. First hints of tertiary, but this has many years ahead of it. Ronan Laborde owner, in his second vintage at the property. 60% new oak.

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.

Clinet was one of the stand-out Right Bank wines in the flight—I ranked it first, enchanted by the pronounced, ripe aromas of plum, fig, and cassis accented with cedar, leather, and a touch of honey. 88% Merlot blended with 12% Cabernet Franc, aged in two-thirds new casks gives a texture that is velvety, almost plump, and rich tannins that support the wine well. It is youthful still but beginning to open up nicely now, and should deliver for years to come. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040
Blind tasted by Charles Curtis MW (at Atlanta, 26 Jun 2021)
Part of Bordeaux 2005 retrospective: 36 wines tasted

As was the style of this property having been taken over by Ronan Laborde in 2003, this Merlot-dominant blend is rich, round and relatively modern in style. There is a touch of stewed fruit and perhaps a little oxidation on the otherwise well-framed palate of dark fruit and everything you would expect from a Pomerol of its stature. The finish is long, well balanced with lovely tannin integration. Delicious.

Dark red; caassis and black cherry to smell; rich, generous, classically fleshy Pomerol; fresh, finely tannic, long, sweet, even, complex and enormously satisfying with its fine charge of fruit, length of flavor and scented finish. Lovely quality. Now – 25+

I have never been totally convinced by the Château Clinet 2005. For sure it has an inviting floral bouquet with an intriguing marine influence – dark berry fruit, hints of black olive and brown spices. It opens gradually in the glass but never lets go completely. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, succulent tannin, well judged acidity but the finish just needs a little more focus and precision. That may come in time. It’s just a little drier at the end than I would have wanted. I would opt for more recent vintages from Ronan Laborde, such as the 2009, 2010 or 2011.

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.