Chateau Clinet 2013

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "93–95. Barrel Sample. A rich and structured wine, this combines both the ripeness of mature Merlot and a solid, dry texture. It's full, with a good future."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "With an hour of air, the medium bodied, plummy wine developed more softness to its textures, coupled with the addition of the mocha, licorice and black cherries in the perfume. Clearly, this is not meant to make old bones. But if you give it some air, it's quite nice for drinking over the next several years."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2013 Clinet was one of the better wines that I tasted from barrel. Indeed both Robert Parker and I scored this Pomerol around the same mark and now it is in bottle, it has fulfilled my expectations as a delicious, easy-going, but still well-crafted wine from Ronan Laborde. It has a delicate but precise bouquet that gains intensity in the glass, cassis and a touch of wild mint, ground pepper emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannin that need another 12-18 months to soften, however there is adequate fruit underneath with a linear, slightly sappy finish. Enjoy this over the next 10-12 years."

WEINWISSER: "90 % Merlot, 9 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 % Cabernet Franc. Tiefes Purpur, satt in der Mitte, Granatschimmer am Rand. Fein rauchiges, schwarzbeeriges Bouquet, ansprechender Duft, recht vielschichtig. Saftiger, feiner Gaumen, schöne dunkle Aromatik, feine Schwarzteenoten und noble Schwarzschokobitterkeit."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarter Wasserrand, feinwürzig unterlegte attraktive dunkle Beerenfrucht, zart nach Orangenzesten, etwas Nougat. Saftig, reife Pflaumen-Kirsch-Frucht, elegante Textur, angenehme Extraktsüße, feiner Säure­bogen, zeigt gute Länge, einiges Entwicklungspotenzial."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This is sneakily deep and long, with bramble, licorice root and warm fruitcake notes enhancing a core of sappy kirsch, blackberry coulis and plum compote flavors. Everything pulls together nicely on the finish, though this needs time to stretch out fully. This has really beefed up since the barrel tasting. Best from 2018 through 2027. 3,750 cases made."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A 2013 with attractive mineral, salt and iron character, plus a creamy acidity. Medium body solid core of fruit and a fresh finish. Very good concentration for the vintage."