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Clinet 1996

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > Pomerol
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Sauvignon

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Label

Tasting Notes

Much like its neighbor of L'Evangile, the 1996 Clinet is somewhat controversial. This is backward, muscular, highly extracted wine with a boatload of tannin, thus the question mark. The saturated plum/purple color is followed by an aggressively oaky nose with scents of rosted coffee, blackberries, and prunes. It is somewhat of a freak for a 1996 Pomerol given its richness, intensity, and overripe style. Medium bodied and powerful, but extremely closed and in need of 2-3 years of cellaring, it will be interesting to follow this wine's evolution to determine of the tannin fully integrates itself into the wine's concentrated style. If not, it will have a slight rusticity to its tannin and structure. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020. Last tasted, 12/01.

91+
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (4), December 2003
91
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (122), April 1999
91/93+
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (3), November 1998

An intriguing style of Clinet, the 1996 will be interesting to follow over its lifeline of at least 20-25 years. The wine exhibits an opaque black/garnet color. It possesses elements of what the French call sur-maturite (literally translated as "overripeness," but the word has a more positive connotation in French than in English), plenty of toasty, smoky new oak, and high levels of tannin. At the same time, compelling levels of fruit, extract, and glycerin are present. The wine is astringent and structured, with more of a Medoc-like austerity than other top vintages of Clinet, but there are gobs of sweet plum, black cherry, and blackberry fruit. The acidity is low, the tannin high, and the concentration level exhilarating. This wine will not be accessible young, as it will undoubtedly tighten up even more, and need at least 6-8 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025.

91/93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (115), February 1998
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.