The 2017 Clinet was picked from 19 to 26 September for the Merlot and on 29 September for the Cabernets at 35hl/ha. It is matured in 72% new oak and the remainder one year old. The alcohol is 13.1° compared to say 14.4° for 2016. It has a perfumed bouquet with mainly red berry fruit, top notes of loam and a touch of violet. It is certainly well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, well delineated, and saline in the mouth. It is quite open towards the finish, perhaps with less grip than other Pomerols that I have tasted, but it is undeniably elegant and well balanced with a hint of cured meat cropping up on the aftertaste. Classic Clinet! 92-94 points

High colour extraction with grilled damson on the nose, but the intensity through the palate is a few notches below the brilliant levels they have been achieving at Clinet over the past few vintages. They suffered around 15% frost to their vines, although did not use any second generation fruit in the first wine. Appreciate their extremely careful extraction, and lovely soft black fruits. 90 points

Black core. Lovely dense aroma of black fruit and graphite, really savoury/mineral, with graphite dominant at the moment. Much more juicy than I expected on the palate. Plenty of dark fruit but only just fresh enough. 16 points

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Clinet opens slowly to reveal vibrant red and black fruits: red currants, black cherries, plums and cassis with touches of roses, yeast extract, wood smoke and crushed rocks. Medium-bodied with firm, grainy tannins and a taut, muscular palate of tightly wound fruits and compelling mineral accents, it finishes long with wonderful purity and fragrant earth accents. 92-94 points