Château Clinet Pomerol 2020

The 2020 Château Clinet checks in as a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, brought up in 80% new French oak. It's a rich, yet gorgeous wine with a wonderful sense of freshness in its ripe blue and black fruits as well as tobacco, chocolate, and damp earth. Full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has perfect tannins, a layered, elegant mouthfeel, and one hell of an impressive finish. One of the finest Pomerols in the vintage, it will benefit from just 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.

The 2020 Clinet is hugely impressive, as it was from the barrel. Dark and imposing, with noticeable vibrancy, the 2020 offers up an exotic melange of black cherry, gravel, incense, plum and licorice. I would give this a few years in hte bottle, as the tannins are pretty imposing. Cabernet Sauvignon is so distinctive here.

93-95. Barrel Sample. This wine's dense tannins and bold black fruits are balanced by its fine acidity and a fresh element that cuts through the dark chocolate and black plum flavors to give a fine lift to what will be an impressive wine as it matures.