Château Clinet Pomerol 2022

The Grand Vin from this terrific Pomerol estate, the 2022 Château Clinet checks in as 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 19 months in 80% new barrels. It's a beautiful Pomerol that clearly ranks with the greats from this address, offering a vivid purple hue, classic notes of cassis, leather, graphite, and black cherries, full-bodied richness, and a layered, seamless mouthfeel. It's another remarkable 2022 that brings the richness and depth of the vintage while staying light on its feel and flawlessly balanced. It has plenty of upfront appeal even today, yet there's ample structure here as well, and it's going to evolve beautifully over the coming 30 years or more.

Intense aromas of dark violets and blueberries as well as terra-cotta follow through to a full body, yet it's tight and focused with beautifully framed fruit from polished tannins and a long and rather endless finish. A complete and fresh Pomerol in 2022. Drink after 2031.

The 2022 Clinet is a very sexy, racy wine. Dense and pliant, with striking silkiness, the 2022 offers up an exciting mélange of blackberry, sage, graphite, crushed rocks, lavender and menthol. This needs time to open, but it's classic Clinet. The 2022 spent 30 days on the skins (on the higher side here), with one pumpover per day. Élevage was 18 months in French oak barrels, 80% new.

This is an impressive Merlot-dominated wine. Its richness marked by dark coffee aroma and bold tannins are indications of a seriously ageworthy wine. It finishes with succulent black fruits and a firm texture. Drink from 2028.

The 2022 Clinet opens in the glass with aromas of ripe cherries and berries framed by a lavish application of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's dense and muscular, with rich structuring tannins, impressively lively acids and a vanillin-laden finish. While it remains nicely balanced, it will require a bit of patience for its élevage to integrate.