2021 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France 750ml

Deeply colored, on the nose you initially find chocolate, flowers, mint, black plums, licorice, espresso, black raspberries, nutmeg and black cherries. Medium-bodied, soft, polished, fresh and silky, with a vibrancy to the ripe, deep, dark red fruits on the mid-palate. There is ample ripe, plums, blueberries and cherries in the refined, chalky finish along with length and vibrancy. The wine is a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% AVB. The harvest took place September 27 - October 12. Drink from 2025-2044.

At 75% Merlot and fully 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Clinet contains the highest proportion of Cabernet in the blend (excepting the 2003) since at least the 1980s. Ronan Laborde harvested late, picking into mid-October, to craft a medium to full-bodied, deep and impressively seamless wine evocative of dark berries, baking chocolate, violets and spices. Concentrated and nicely integrated, it is one of the vintage's notable successes. (WK)