2016 Chateau Clinet

97 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter

This is a wine that makes you want to slow down, take your time and let those flavours envelop you. It's a little subdued right now, but the texture pulls you in and holds on tight. There is Cabernet in the DNA here and you feel it: a touch of austerity in the first breath, then an intense punch of dark, tight cassis fruits with a liquorice and dark chocolate finish. It's taken on more flesh on the bones during ageing, with the aromatics blossoming through the glass and revealing floral, violet-stained edging and a silky smooth tannic frame.

95 POINTS

James Suckling

Beautiful blue fruit and earth with hints of black truffle, this has a violet and fragrant edge, too. Really complex, youthful impression here. The palate has mouthwatering fruit flavor and terrific sense of fresh energy and cut on the finish. A blend of 90 per cent merlot and ten per cent cabernet sauvignon. Try from 2024.

94 POINTS

James Suckling

The linear character to this is so impressive with beautiful blackberries and blueberries. Crushed stones and minerals. Medium to full body. Very pretty. Points: 94-95

93 POINTS

Wine Spectator

Warm and fleshy in feel, showing dark plum, boysenberry and blackberry sauce flavors infused with mulling spice and black tea notes. Singed alder and tobacco hints flicker on the finish, adding texture. This delivers an encore of fruit detail on the finish too, with some sneaky length. Seductive.

93 POINTS

Peter Moser - Falstaff

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening at the rim, fine blackberry, smoky, spicy nuances, fine oak notes. Taut, blackberry, vivid, somewhat-demanding tannins, still seems a bit dry on the finish, a lot of oak in the mix, needs time to develop further, definite ageing potential.