With a dense purple color and gorgeous levels of fruit, especially black raspberry and blackcurrant, this full-bodied, opulent style of wine is another great success for Clinet, a château that has been on top of its game for the last decade. This is stunning stuff, and whatever new oak has been used – and there is plenty – it is totally disguised by the luxurious and extravagant fruit level. This full-bodied, opulent Pomerol should drink well for 15 or more years. 95 points – Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #218, April 2015)

A wine of total precision, the 2012 Clinet possesses striking aromatic nuance and delineation. Crushed flowers, sweet raspberries, herbs and mint flesh out effortlessly, with silky, polished tannins that add to the wine's feel of graciousness. The spherical, beautifully textured finish suggests the 2012 will offer a wide drinking window of pure pleasure over the next 15-20 years. This is impressive. The 2012 is 90% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc.

Gorgeous plum cake, melted licorice and steeped currant and blackberry fruit is inlaid with notes of fruitcake and singed vanilla bean. Long and plush through the finish, with a buried charcoal spine that adds needed cut. Best from 2017 through 2027. 3,800 cases made. – James Molesworth (WineSpectator.com, March 2015)

Fabulous nose of orange peel, blueberries and blackberries. Full body, firm tannins and a cocoa, cedar and berry finish. Little austere now but so fine. Truly outstanding for the vintage.

(90% Merlot/9% Cabernet Sauvignon/ 1% Cabernet Franc)
Ripe but fresh nose with bright fruit and white pepper. Lovely energy in the mouth with juicy fruit and just a hint of bite. Good firm structure. More new oak but less toast helps with restraint and class. Lovely.

The Clinet was started early on 8th September for the young vines, picked at just 12hl/ha and returning on the 14th to tackle the young vines. It was then picked 10th, 20th, 26th and 27th September for the Merlot, the 9th October for the old Merlot vines and the Cabernets the following day. That means it was picked over 32 days, the teams of pickers returning several times to the same plot in order to pick at the optimal ripeness. The alcohol level is 13.2%, more the 1-degree less than the 2010 and it was cropped at 34hl/ha. Clinet was expanded in 2011, so the blend is now 90% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc and Ronan told me that he is considering increasing the percentage of Cabernet in the future. There is fine precision on the nose with marine influences – hints of Japanese nori and seashells developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied and very natural with fine tannins. This is a less hedonistic Clinet for sure, but very well balanced and full of character, perhaps reflecting the terroir with more clarity. With modest length, this is a well-crafted Clinet for medium-term drinking. – eRobertParker.com, May 2013

[90M/9CS/1CF] Darkly ripe fruit, sweet, cassisy; lovely balance, easy, ripe, fresh, supple and with very fine tannins; sweet in fruit, long, gently fleshy, subtly complex and with fine sweet, gently spicy length. Elegant and restrained but with a gorgeously seductive fruit. 2018-30 [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2013]

Dark crimson. Rich, sweet cocoa nose. Then some green notes. Not wholly comfortable as a whole. A tad sweet and sour. Very scrawny finish. – jancisrobinson.com, Oct 2014