Chateau Clinet 2008

18 RENÈ GABRIEL: "85 % Merlot, 12 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 3 % Cabernet Franc. Extrem dunkles Granat-Violett. Gewaltiges Kräuterbouquet das unten gestützt wird von rauchigen Heidelbeeren und Brombeerennoten, schwarze Johannisbeere, Szechuanpfefferkörner, dicht und tief mit einer unerwarteten Konzentration. Im Gaumen wieder eine intensive Fruchtbeerenaromatik, alles im blau- bis schwarzbeerigen Bereich, feine Tannine, ausgeglichene Adstringenz, Black Currant und Lakritze im lange nachklingenden Finale. Hier bahnt sich eine kleine Sensation an! (18/20)."

93 THE WINEADVOCATE: "This is the first bottle of Clinet ’98 to show a little reduction, although it improves with aeration and offers some lovely cassis and iodine scents that waft enticingly from the glass. The palate is very concentrated, more so than the VCC, though it does not possess quite the same poise and focus on the finish. This is a controlled Clinet, one with its harness and blinkers on, and it shows great potential however. Tasted June 2013." - Neal Martin.

93 WINESPECTATOR: "Ripe, rich and almost flashy, with gorgeous spice, mocha and warm raspberry ganache notes up front, followed by darker fig, currant, graphite and black tea on the long, racy finish. Accessible now, this will be a real winner when it knits together fully. Best from 2013 through 2019. 2,915 cases made."

93 THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "You need to lay this down for a while. There is a good concentration of fruit, lots of licorice and truffle, along with the dark chocolate covered cherries that are present from start to finish, but the tannins are more present than the fruit at the moment. Popped and poured, so the wine could show better with a few hours of air."

91 ANTONIO GALLONI: "Good deep ruby-red. Exotic Pomerol scents of dark chocolate and violet complemented by sexy oak tones. Lush and large-scaled; a bit youthfully undifferentiated today, but the flavors of cherry-cola, cassis and licorice are compellingly creamy and sweet. Finishes with serious, broad, supple tannins and very good length." - Stephen Tanzer - Jul 2011.

91 WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Dark-colored wine, with smoky, bitter chocolate flavors: cocoa plus spice and jammy black plums. It´s powerful, densely textured, finishing with good acidity."

90 JAMES SUCKLING: "Smoky and fruity, with dark fruits and spices. Full body, chewy tannins, with an excellent core of fruit underneath it all. This needs time to mellow. Give it at least three or four years."