Important Notice

By continuing, you agree to our privacy policy, consent to cookies, and confirm you are 21 or older.

I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

YOU MUST BE 21 OR OLDER TO CONTINUE

NYC, Long Island and The Hamptons Receive Free Delivery on Orders $300+
Cool Wine Shippers Now Available.

2018 Clinet

99 JD

Availability:

From the critics:

97+ RP

97 DEC

96 JS

95 VM

95 WE

Featured Review
Including slightly more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, the 2018 Château Clinet is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon that was brought up in 75% new French oak. One of the superstars of the vintage, it has incredible elegance and finesse as well as gorgeous richness and depth. Notes of cassis and truffly dark fruits as well as tobacco, damp earth, chocolate, and lead pencil shavings emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied, with a seamless, multi-dimensional texture, gorgeous tannins, and a great, great finish. It already offers incredible pleasure, but it won't hit maturity for another 5-7 years and should evolve for 30 years or more. This magical wine is in the same league as the 2015 and 2016, and drinking these beauties over the coming decades will be an incredible treat. Jeb Dunnuck

Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JD

Critic Reviews

Including slightly more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, the 2018 Château Clinet is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon that was brought up in 75% new French oak. One of the superstars of the vintage, it has incredible elegance and finesse as well as gorgeous richness and depth. Notes of cassis and truffly dark fruits as well as tobacco, damp earth, chocolate, and lead pencil shavings emerge from the glass, and it’s full-bodied, with a seamless, multi-dimensional texture, gorgeous tannins, and a great, great finish. It already offers incredible pleasure, but it won’t hit maturity for another 5-7 years and should evolve for 30 years or more. This magical wine is in the same league as the 2015 and 2016, and drinking these beauties over the coming decades will be an incredible treat.

Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JD
The 2018 Clinet is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for approximately 16 months in French oak barriques, 75% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is locked down tight at first sniff, requiring a good amount of air to begin to reveal profound notions of stewed black plums, mulberries and black cherry compote, plus hints of black truffles, damp soil, tobacco leaf and chargrill with an emerging waft of cedar. The full-bodied palate is a full-on volcano of black fruit and molten rock waiting to erupt, with a solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with amazing length. There is a lot going on here, but it is a wine for the patient. Give it a good 5-7 years in bottle, at least, and drink it over the next 30+ years.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97+ RP
Closed and coiled right now, with ripped layers of fruit. A ton of graphite, bitter dark chocolate and finessed berry fruits. Definitely need to give this time and respect its muscular from. A seriously impressive Clinet that has held its form over ageing. Drinking Window 2026 - 2045.

Decanter | 97 DEC
Blackberries and blueberries with subtle black chocolate and violets on the nose, following to a full-bodied palate with polished, creamy tannins. Beautiful balance and really refined texture. Drink after 2024, but already so gorgeous.

James Suckling | 96 JS
The 2018 Clinet, which was cropped at 38hl/ha, has an exquisite bouquet of lavish black cherry and raspberry fruit, and still those bunches of violets I observed from barrel, flanked by potpourri. The aromatics are well defined and the new oak seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit. It has firmed up since I tasted in barrel, when I noted that it felt like a "muscular" Clinet in the making. That trait is emphasized in bottle, and those accustomed to the more hedonistic Clinets of yore might find it a tad more reserved and drier. But it is a style that suits it well. White pepper leaves the mouth tingling after it has departed, the fitting conclusion to a superb – dare I say cerebral? – Clinet that has a long and prosperous future.

Vinous Media | 95 VM
This is a powerful, densely structured wine. Rich in tannins, full of dark black fruits and ripe acidity, the wine is impressively complete. It has considerable promise. Drink this wine from 2026.

Wine Enthusiast | 95 WE

Wine Details for 2018 Clinet

Type of Wine Bordeaux Red : Picture in your mind a combination of cedar, lead pencil, blackcurrant, plum and mineral aromatics, and texture that caresses your palate like a playful lover. The experience is thrilling from the first whiff to the final seconds of a tannic, generous finish - that is what you'll get from a Bordeaux Red
Varietal Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world.



For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide.



France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity.



France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.



With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.
Region Bordeaux : Even among the greatest and most reputable wine regions on the planet, Bordeaux stands above the rest. The winemakers of this region have a single-minded dedication to the fine art of viticulture and their efforts never fail to show. If you consider yourself a fine wine enthusiast, you owe it to yourself to visit Bordeaux - life changing. Whether you wish to drink some inspirational and gripping wine as soon as possible, or you want to add some masterpieces to your collection, no region on Earth is a more obvious choice.

The noble and beautiful Garonne and Dordogne rivers surge through southwestern France, enriching the soil in a way very few other places can boast. The limestone-based earth is rich in calcium, and the almost oceanic climate conditions give the staple Bordeaux grape varietals vigor and flavor like nowhere else. For their illustrious reds, Bordeaux winemakers rely on a proven combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Meanwhile, a sip of their excellent white wine hints at the use of Semillon, Muscadelle and Sauvignon Blanc.Each of these varietals carries a unique identity, making every quality wine a character piece to rival Citizen Kane. It can be incredibly hard to choose only a few wines to collect for your cellar!
Subregion Right Bank
Appellation Pomerol

Overview

Producer Chateau Clinet : Once a sister to Petrus, having been owned by the Arnaud famil, and commanding one of the healthiest prices on the Right Bank, Chateau Clinet has a rich history of both success and neglect. The Chateau enjoyed success under the ownership of the Arnauds but nevertheless was sold to the Constant family in the 1860’s. Over the course of a hundred years the estate would be repeatedly sold and passed on; the wine suffering a demise as the treatment of the property incongruous and negligent. The magnetism it once possessed would not return until 1979 when it came to rest in the nurturing hands of famed oenologist, Michel Rolland, under the new ownership of Jean-Michel Arcaute.

Under the consultation of Rolland, Arcaute was able to restore the wine produced to its former glory, implementing improvements that would lead to a successful slew of vintages throughout the 1980’s. Though Clinet did not belong to Arcaute long, he was instrumental in resurrecting the property and placing it safely back into the category of not only one of Pomerol’s greatest estates, but one of the greatest in all of Bordeaux. His desire to bring Clinet to the top level of the best producers in Pomerol and his determination to this cause became a major success and a historical one at that.

In 1998, John-Louis Laborde took control of Clinet and with the ongoing assistance of Michel Rolland, passionately continued elevating the Chateau back to elite status. Leaf thinning and green harvesting was immediately instigated, striving to harvest fruit that was fully ripe with developed skin, seeds and stems. Machine harvesting was discontinued, reinstating hand-picking. The tedious task was “fruitful” as the method helped to insure that only the best grapes were picked.

A change in varietals was a risky venture; however, the planting of large percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon (large for Pomerol where Merlot reigns triumphantly) proved to be a major contributor to its style and success. The 11.5-hectare vineyard of Chateau Clinet is divided into 21 separate parcels on slopes and hillsides which rise to a lofty elevation of 35 meters (one of the highest points on the Pomerol Plateau). At this height, 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and a tiny parcel of Cabernet Franc prosper in a complex blend of gravel, clay and iron rich, sandy soils. The tremendous terroir is shared with famous neighbors who also produce stellar wines of great renown.

With a miniscule annual production of only 3,000 cases, Clinet has once again become a top level producer with fantastic allure, which it previously enjoyed in its original glory days. The blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc varies yearly depending on the harvest but the quality does not. It remains a top tier Pomerol and Bordeaux wine that flows from the bottle with a rich, supple, sensuous, and powerful character, offering floral, chocolate and spicy flavors. The wine will age effortlessly developing into a timeless piece of history that once was neglected, but now restored to greatness. A true story of redemption.

People also bought:

1996 Ducru Beaucaillou, Bordeaux Red
1996 Ducru Beaucaillou Bordeaux Red
97
RPHG
As low as $315.00
VIEW OPTIONS
2009 Trotanoy, Bordeaux Red
2009 Trotanoy Bordeaux Red
98+
RP
As low as $409.00
VIEW OPTIONS
2010 grand puy lacoste Bordeaux Red
2010 Grand Puy Lacoste Bordeaux Red
97
VM
As low as $159.00
VIEW OPTIONS
2009 smith haut lafitte Bordeaux Red
2009 Smith Haut Lafitte Bordeaux Red
100
RP
As low as $445.00
VIEW OPTIONS
2009 pontet canet Bordeaux Red
2009 Pontet Canet Bordeaux Red
100
RP
As low as $295.00
VIEW OPTIONS
2009 mouton rothschild Bordeaux Red
2009 Mouton Rothschild Bordeaux Red
100
JD
As low as $675.00
VIEW OPTIONS
2009 Les Forts de Latour, Bordeaux Red
2009 Les Forts de Latour Bordeaux Red
95
RP
As low as $410.00
VIEW OPTIONS
2009 Leoville Poyferre, Bordeaux Red
2009 Leoville Poyferre Bordeaux Red
100
RP
As low as $299.00
VIEW OPTIONS
2009 leoville barton Bordeaux Red
2009 Leoville Barton Bordeaux Red
98
WE
As low as $230.00
VIEW OPTIONS
2009 La Conseillante, Bordeaux Red
2009 La Conseillante Bordeaux Red
97
VM
As low as $305.00
VIEW OPTIONS

Need Help Finding the right wine?

Your personal wine consultant will assist you with buying, managing your collection, investing in wine, entertaining and more.

Contact Your Personal Wine Consultant
Footer Logo
Sokolin uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our site, provide necessary website functionality and analyze our traffic. To consent, please continue shopping. Learn more.

©2025 Sokolin LLC ™. All Rights Reserved.

loader
Loading...