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Chateau Clinet: Winemaking, Prices, Best Wines (2024)

by Anthony Zhang

So, what makes Chateau Clinet so special? How is it made?

Let’s take a virtual trip to the Pomerol appellation and explore everything about Chateau Clinet - its history, vineyards, winemaking techniques, and The Best Clinet Wines To Invest In 2024.

You’ll also find out A Hassle-Free Way To Invest In Exotic Clinet Wine.

A Quick Intro To Chateau Clinet

Chateau Clinet is a small but prestigious winery located on Gironde’s right bank in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux. Clinet owns some of the best Pomerol vineyards located on the gravel terraces of Gunz that produce rich and concentrated Merlot.

The 11 hectares of Clinet vineyards are planted with two main grape varieties - Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Today, Clinet is owned and managed by Ronan Laborde (of the Laborde family) famously known as ‘The Marathon Man.’

But the winery has changed hands many times over the last two centuries. So, let’s take a step back and see how it all began.

Chateau Clinet’s Eventful Past

Old maps found at the estate show that the first vines were planted at Chateau Clinet in 1785. It was owned by the Constant family, who passed it to the famous Bordeaux wine makers - the Arnauds (who also owned the Petrus estate.)

In the late 20th century, the Arnauds sold the Clinet estate to the Audy family, who were Bordeaux negociants.

During this period, Jean Michel Arcaut (the estate’s managing director) adopted green harvesting and reduced the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the vineyard.

Jean appointed Michel Rolland as a consultant who increased the amount of aging in new French oak to give the wines more structure. To emphasize on the focus on quality, they declassified the entire 1984 crop.

In 1991, the estate was sold to Gan insurance, but Jean Michel Arcaut remained the estate’s director.

In 1998, Jean-Louis Laborde acquired Clinet. When his son, Ronan Laborde, began managing the estate in 2004, he replanted the vineyards, reduced the new oak barrels to 60%, adopted eco-friendly viticulture practices, built a new winery, and reorganized Clinet’s distribution.

Ronan Laborde further launched a brand of inexpensive wines called ‘Ronan by Clinet’ and expanded the estate by acquiring more property across the appellation in 2010 and 2012.

Today, Ronan is not only counted among the top producers of the Pomerol appellation, including Denis Durantou and Petrus, he has also established his name worldwide - especially after the 2009 Chateau Clinet vintage.

Chateau Clinet’s Prestigious Terroir

The Clinet vineyards are divided into 21 different parcels located on the highest points of the Pomerol Plateau. The terroir of Chateau Clinet is a blend of gravel, clay, and iron-rich soils with good sun exposure.

They have three main vineyard plots that enjoy the best Pomerol terroir:

La Grand Vigne
Les Argilles
Le Plateau

These plots have old vine plantings with an average age of 42 years.

The 11.27 hectares of vineyards are spread across the appellation. Out of this, 88% is planted with Merlot, 11.5% with Cabernet Sauvignon, and 0.5% has Cabernet Franc vines.

Clinet Winemaking Techniques

Here’s a quick rundown of the Chateau Clinet winemaking process:

The grapes are carefully handpicked to avoid breakage before vinification.
In the new winery, vinification takes place in double-walled temperature-controlled stainless steel vats.
After vinification, the wine goes through malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels and vats.
Finally, Chateau Clinet is aged in 60% new French oak barrels for 18-22 months.
If the wine needs more structure, it is blended with the separately aged press wine.

Let’s explore the different Clinet wine styles.

The Brilliant Clinet Wines

Domaine Clinet produces three main types of Bordeaux wines. From age-worthy red wines to easy-drinking table wines - Clinet has something for every wine enthusiast.

Here’s everything you need to know about them.

A. Chateau Clinet

The winery’s most famous red wine, Chateau Clinet is known for its rich and powerful texture and sensual scent.

It is predominantly a Merlot red wine with small quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon using 50% of new vine plantings.

The wine is mainly admired for the robust tannin content that helps it age for years - the reason why it’s one of the most popular investment wines in the world.

B. Fleur de Clinet

The fruit for Fleur de Clinet or ‘La Fleur’ - the estate’s second wine - used to be sourced from other growers. Today, the wine is produced entirely from the fruit of the Clinet vineyard.

This red wine is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc grape varieties. Tasting this wine reveals black fruit (primarily black cherry), red cherry, blueberry, and cassis fruit flavor with subtle spice and brown sugar notes.

C. Ronan by Clinet

Ronan by Clinet is a brand of Bordeaux AOP (Appellation d'Origine Protégée) wines produced by the Chateau Clinet team. These wines are sold to the suppliers of Cotes de Bordeaux, Cotes de Bourg, Lussac-Saint-Emilion, and Bordeaux AOP.

Ronan by Clinet red wines are made entirely from the Merlot grape, while the whites are a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and MuscadelleTo get the best of Chateau Clinet, serve it at 15.5oC or 60oF with roasted and grilled meat dishes like chicken, veal, pork, or beef.

How To Serve Clinet Wines

To get the best of Chateau Clinet, serve it at 15.5oC or 60oF with roasted and grilled meat dishes like chicken, veal, pork, or beef.

Chateau Clinet also pairs well with Asian dishes, tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

Want to know the best Clinet vintage to have with your delicious dinner or add to your collection?

Best Chateau Clinet Vintages to Buy In 2024 (Including Tasting Notes, Prices)

If you need a gift for a wine enthusiast or if you’re hosting a wine tasting, these Chateau Clinet vintage bottles are the best choices.

1. 2000 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France

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The 2000 vintage is a great wine with complex tasting notes. This Clinet has an expressive nose with plum, ripe cherry, blackcurrant, raspberry, and espresso aroma. It is medium to full-bodied on the palate with sweet tannin and a lengthy black fruit finish.

Price of 2000 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France: $200

2. 2001 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France

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The list’s second wine is the 2001 Merlot vintage - a savory delight for every wine enthusiast that reflects the unique Gunzian terroir.

The nose is complex with hints of Burgundian fruit, red cherry, cassis, ripe plum, chocolate, and spice. You notice a layered palate with refreshing acidity, concentrated red fruit flavors, and an elegant brown sugar finish on tasting.

Price of 2001 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France: $129

3. 2003 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France

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Another great wine, the 2003 Chateau Clinet gives off intense blackcurrant, black cherry, cassis, and ripe plum aroma. Wine tasting reveals an excellent depth, extended black fruit finish, balanced acidity, and chewy tannin on the palate.

Price of 2003 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France: $118

4. 2005 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France

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An opaque ruby wine, the 2005 Chateau Clinet vintage has a complex nose of dark plums, blackcurrant, cherry, licorice, and truffle scent. This wine is full-bodied on the palate with intense fruit flavors balanced by soft acidity.

Price of 2005 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France: $158

5. 2007 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France

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Here’s a great wine with loads of firm tannins - an excellent bottle to add to your cellar. The nose has an intense dark fruit aroma with subtle truffle, ripe plum, red cherry, and oak hints. The wine reveals a velvety palate and a medium finish on tasting.

Price of 2007 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France: $120

6. 2009 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France

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This Chateau Clinet vintage red wine is a blend of 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc.

Blueberry, dark plums, cherry, truffles, raspberry, licorice, and wood smoke aromas dominate the nose. On the palate, this Bordeaux wine has sweet tannin, concentrated fruit flavor, and a lingering finish.

Price of 2009 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France: $293

7. 2010 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France

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The 2010 Chateau Clinet vintage has a very expressive nose. It has a dominant dark fruit aroma with complex licorice, cherry, creme de cassis, and chocolate notes and the scent of vanilla. When it comes to tasting this full-bodied wine, you will notice velvety tannins that lead you to a long finish.

Price of 2010 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France: $172

8. 2015 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France

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Another brilliant vintage, this red wine has blueberry, plum, and raspberry fruit aromas with earthy nuances. The palate is tight with seamless tannins.

Price of 2015 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France: $139

9. 2016 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France

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This Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wine has a saturated purple color in the glass.

The 2016 Chateau Clinet has creme de cassis, dark plum, herbs, and mineral aromas. Tasting this wine reveals an extensive depth, balanced acidity, and subtle spice notes.

Price of 2016 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France: $128

10. 2018 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France

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A very promising vintage, the 2018 Chateau Clinet has a gorgeous nose of dark fruit, creme de cassis, dark plums, chocolate, and brown sugar. The full palate has firm tannins that will loosen after a few years of good aging.

Price of 2018 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, France: $125

Should You Invest In Clinet Wines?

The brilliant Chateau Clinet wines made of Merlot and Cabernet (Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc) have firm tannins and robust structure that gives them an excellent aging potential of 10-35 years. They also consistently achieve excellent scores from well-acclaimed wine critics.

In fact, the 2009 and 1989 vintage wines got a complete 100 from Robert Parker for their delicious smokey nuances. As a result, the price of the 2009 bottle more than doubled from $1420+ to $2500+ per case.

Other Clinet vintages have also shown a stable price appreciation in the past years:

The 2007 Chateau Clinet grew 35% from $92 to $125 over the year 2020.
The 2017 Chateau Clinet rose by 24% from $82 in Feb 2020 to $102 in Feb 2021.

If you want to invest in this fine wine, then 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, and 2008 are some of the vintages you should go for.

But how will you buy these fine wines without encountering a counterfeit bottle? Also, what about the hassles of delivering them to your doorstep without breakage or loss?

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Time to Start Your Collection of Exotic Wine!

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Chateau Clinet has done exceptionally well in embracing change and innovation over two centuries. Year after year, it has produced bold and sensual Merlot-based reds that have fascinated all Bordeaux wine lovers.

A bottle of fine Chateau Clinet is a perfect wine to add to your wine collection.

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