Château Clinet 2021

Château Clinet 2021 is a prestigious red from Pomerol, Bordeaux, standing out in this vintage for one of the highest proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon in its recent history. Critics describe it as a modern, balanced wine with great energy, balancing classic elegance with firm structure.

Owned by the Laborde family since 1998, Château Clinet's 8.5 hectares, ideally located on the Pomerol plateau, produce a very pleasant classic wine of its appellation, charming and always spicy, favouring freshness. Thanks to the clay and gravel soils, the wines have power and finesse. A must-have!

The Wine Advocate
RP 92+

Reviewed by: William Kelley

The 2021 Clinet offers aromas of dark berries, plums and liquorice in the glass, mixed with notes of mint and orange zest. On the palate it's medium- to full-bodied, with a generous, ripe core of fruit framed by sweet, powdery tannins that show on the finish, marked by oak influence. At this early stage of its evolution, the wine remains quite structured from its élevage.

Published: 8 February 2024.

Profile of the 2021 Vintage

The particular weather of 2021 produced wines with a distinct style compared with the more concentrated, exuberant 2018, 2019 and 2020 vintages.

• Greater balance and freshness: The wines show alcohol on average 1% to 2% lower than in previous years, with lively acidity that reinforces their elegance and ageing capacity.
• More delicate aromatic expression: Fresh red fruit, floral notes — such as violet — and spicy nuances predominate, replacing the ripe or overripe black-fruit profiles typical of warmer years.
• Late-ripening grapes shine: Slower-ripening varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc benefited from favourable autumn conditions, adding structure, depth and balance to the final blends. Producers who knew how to exploit this potential achieved particularly interesting results.

Conclusion:
The 2021 vintage stood out less for power and more for finesse. It's a vintage that favours elegance, freshness and food-friendliness, reflecting a classic Bordeaux style and showing excellent ageing potential in bottle.