One of the wines of the appellation offers depth of color before you get to the flowers, tobacco leaves, espresso, truffle, mint, cedar, black cherries, incense, and chocolatey plums. Plush, supple, and with ample fruit showing sweet, and tart characteristics. The wine provides lift, energy, polish, length, and an edgy finish. The wine blends 75% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2025-2045.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
UGCB Amsterdam, walkaround tasting so just short notes.: 75% Merlot and 25% CS from 74 years old vines. The result is a somewhat green wine with fresh acidity and a firm amount of tannin and a good length, but overall for Clinet a bit disappointing. 92+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Amsterdam UGCB Tasting (Zuiderkerk): A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet-Sauvignon. Wonderful freshness from the Cabernet without anything green or leafy, delicately toasted oak, gentle sandy tannins, spiced cherry finish, very good length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
UGCB tasting-Amsterdam 2021 Bordeaux 03-04-2024: A modest, somewhat closed bouquet, an acceptable amount of wood, maybe a bit lean, bit rough in the finish, yet tasty and interesting to follow its development.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sehr dichte Farbe. Betörende Nase, tiefgründig, noch leicht vom Fass geprägt, dahinter eine wunderbar dunkle, reine Frucht, florale Töne, Cassis, ein Gedicht. Im Gaumen kräftig, zeigt Druck, Konzentration, die Tannine sind von höchster Güte, ausgezeichnet die Balance, hier treffen Kraft und Eleganz aufeinander. Vielleicht der schönste Clinet, der mich vor allem mit seinem frischen Stil überzeugt. 2026-2045+ (Verkostet im November 2023 in Zürich bei UGCB)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
UGCB SF Tasting Event (Metreon, San Francisco): Nice concentration and fairly generous red fruit. Good acid and balance. Lacking in the mid-palate somewhat, but a nice finish. Elegant with chalky tannins on the finish. 92
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
UGC 2021 Bordeaux (Vibiana, Los Angeles, CA): The nose is classic Clinet as it has excellent purity to the red fruit-driven tones of red cherries, fresh picked berries, raspberries, herbs, roses, red florals, spice box, wet clay, licorice, and a touch of cedar. This has good complexity, but something is lacking in the depth department. The Medium bodied feel is balanced and fresh with medium acidity and silky, medium tannins. The lack of depth from the nose shows through on the palate as well while this also lacks a bit on the mid-palate. If this adds weight and fleshes out with age then it will improve a great bit. If it doesn't, then it will stay what it is which is a lovely and red-fruited Clinet that lacks a little bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
UGC Bordeaux (Drake Hotel - Chicago IL): Walkaround tasting with the producers. Also getting close to seeming ripe, close to good balance. Simple but good overall.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
11x Bordeaux 2021: UCG Arrivage Tasting of just a handful of 2021 Bordeauxs. Some thoughts: 1) It's a very mediocre vintage. There is not enough substance, many wines seem simple. Especially on the Left Bank, the balance was a bit off (too much acidity, too many herbal notes, not enough fruit... and some showed greenness and drying tannins). 2) 2021 is being promoted as a vintage for "classic" Bordeaux lovers, a vintage for those who liked 2014 and 2017. In my opinion, 2021 does not come close to those vintages. 2014 is more structured, with better balance and often more depth. 2017 is much rounder, more balanced and a bit more polished. 3) We all know the high prices for 2021, so there's no need to chase them (they'll probably only get cheaper in the next few years). Here are some impressions on a few selected wines.
TN: Brief comment, no detailed notes taken. Clinet was often a bit too ripe and flamboyant for my taste in the last few hotter vintages. In 2021, however, this style worked quite well. This is a nice, round and harmonious wine with enough ripe red and dark red fruit to draw you in. But it's clearly not at the level of the 2016. 90/91pts.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux 2021 Arrivage Tasting (Dolder Grand, Zurich): Red and blue berry type of fruit, earth, graphite. This is an intense and multidimensional, densely packed wine, but in an elegant fashion. Juicy palate, felt just a bit unripe and with a slightly wobbly balance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
(93-95 vvPunkte) Sehr dichte Farbe. Betörende Nase, tiefgründig, noch leicht vom Fass geprägt, dahinter eine wunderbar dunkle, reine Frucht, florale Töne, Cassis, ein Gedicht. Im Gaumen kräftig, zeigt Druck, Konzentration, die Tannine sind von höchster Güte, ausgezeichnet die Balance, hier treffen Kraft und Eleganz aufeinander. Vielleicht der schönste Clinet, der mich vor allem mit seinem frischen Stil überzeugt. 2026-2045+ (Verkostet "En Primeur" im April 2022. UCGB) vvWine.ch
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
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. 93-95
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon from 11.5 ha of mixed gravel, clay, and iron-rich sandy soils and vines of average age 45 yrs planted 6,777-7,200/ha. “La Grand Vigne", a special parcel of old-vine merlot is horse-ploughed. Vinified (since 2014) in 17 temperature-controlled, double-walled, stainless steel vats (25-45 HL). Malolactic in both French oak barrels and vats. Aging 18-22 months in French (incl. 5% German and Austrian) oak barrels (60% new). 13% Abv. Background: Planted as early as 1785, Clinet was bought by Jean-Louis Laborde in late 1998. In 2004 son Robnan Laborde (a marathoner and head of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux) took charge. Proprietors: Ronan Laborde and spouse Monique Bailly
Barrel Sample presented in May 2022.
A(ccuray)=2: Med deep ruby. Robust, woodsy Merlot blend. B(alance)=2: Ripe fruit with fine structure. C(omplexity)=2: Dark berries, plum, oak tannin, chalky minerality. D(epth)=2: Round mouthfeel. Full palate and long finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,2,2,2]= 8/10
Age should improve on the balance.
For story-telling label graphics, see: [https://www.instagram.com/p/Cei35yxJAHt/] [https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/] For a video explanation of WineTally (in 8 languages) see: www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2qWL0bXxgE
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
En-Primeur campaign for the 2021 vintage; 4/25/2022-4/29/2022 (Bordeaux): Initially aromas show quite a lot of clay, with time some red berry fruit that has a slightly sharp herbaceous note, cedar, plenty of savoury spice. Sour on the palate, quite green, hard acidity and equally hard tannins, woody, pretty bad
3/9/2024 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
One of the wines of the appellation offers depth of color before you get to the flowers, tobacco leaves, espresso, truffle, mint, cedar, black cherries, incense, and chocolatey plums. Plush, supple, and with ample fruit showing sweet, and tart characteristics. The wine provides lift, energy, polish, length, and an edgy finish. The wine blends 75% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2025-2045.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2024 - Zweder Likes this wine: 92 Points
UGCB Amsterdam, walkaround tasting so just short notes.: 75% Merlot and 25% CS from 74 years old vines. The result is a somewhat green wine with fresh acidity and a firm amount of tannin and a good length, but overall for Clinet a bit disappointing. 92+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2024 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
Amsterdam UGCB Tasting (Zuiderkerk): A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet-Sauvignon. Wonderful freshness from the Cabernet without anything green or leafy, delicately toasted oak, gentle sandy tannins, spiced cherry finish, very good length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2024 - FransS wrote: 91 Points
UGCB tasting-Amsterdam 2021 Bordeaux 03-04-2024: A modest, somewhat closed bouquet, an acceptable amount of wood, maybe a bit lean, bit rough in the finish, yet tasty and interesting to follow its development.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2024 - vvWine.ch wrote: 94 Points
Sehr dichte Farbe. Betörende Nase, tiefgründig, noch leicht vom Fass geprägt, dahinter eine wunderbar dunkle, reine Frucht, florale Töne, Cassis, ein Gedicht. Im Gaumen kräftig, zeigt Druck, Konzentration, die Tannine sind von höchster Güte, ausgezeichnet die Balance, hier treffen Kraft und Eleganz aufeinander. Vielleicht der schönste Clinet, der mich vor allem mit seinem frischen Stil überzeugt. 2026-2045+ (Verkostet im November 2023 in Zürich bei UGCB)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2024 - englishman's claret wrote:
Serious nose of macerated blackberry, pencils. Really full palate which should be able to integrate its oak within the next decade or so.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2024 - ohne_musik wrote:
UGCB SF Tasting Event (Metreon, San Francisco): Nice concentration and fairly generous red fruit. Good acid and balance. Lacking in the mid-palate somewhat, but a nice finish. Elegant with chalky tannins on the finish. 92
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2024 - KeithAkers wrote: 89 Points
UGC 2021 Bordeaux (Vibiana, Los Angeles, CA): The nose is classic Clinet as it has excellent purity to the red fruit-driven tones of red cherries, fresh picked berries, raspberries, herbs, roses, red florals, spice box, wet clay, licorice, and a touch of cedar. This has good complexity, but something is lacking in the depth department. The Medium bodied feel is balanced and fresh with medium acidity and silky, medium tannins. The lack of depth from the nose shows through on the palate as well while this also lacks a bit on the mid-palate. If this adds weight and fleshes out with age then it will improve a great bit. If it doesn't, then it will stay what it is which is a lovely and red-fruited Clinet that lacks a little bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2024 - tcarter Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wally's Presents L'Union des Grands Crus Bordeaux Tasting (Vibiana DTLA): This really impressed! Beautifully crafted, balanced and lush but still light on its feet. Silky mouthfeel.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2024 - Burgundy Al wrote:
UGC Bordeaux (Drake Hotel - Chicago IL): Walkaround tasting with the producers. Also getting close to seeming ripe, close to good balance. Simple but good overall.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2023 - Cailles wrote: 91 Points
11x Bordeaux 2021: UCG Arrivage Tasting of just a handful of 2021 Bordeauxs. Some thoughts: 1) It's a very mediocre vintage. There is not enough substance, many wines seem simple. Especially on the Left Bank, the balance was a bit off (too much acidity, too many herbal notes, not enough fruit... and some showed greenness and drying tannins). 2) 2021 is being promoted as a vintage for "classic" Bordeaux lovers, a vintage for those who liked 2014 and 2017. In my opinion, 2021 does not come close to those vintages. 2014 is more structured, with better balance and often more depth. 2017 is much rounder, more balanced and a bit more polished. 3) We all know the high prices for 2021, so there's no need to chase them (they'll probably only get cheaper in the next few years). Here are some impressions on a few selected wines.
TN: Brief comment, no detailed notes taken. Clinet was often a bit too ripe and flamboyant for my taste in the last few hotter vintages. In 2021, however, this style worked quite well. This is a nice, round and harmonious wine with enough ripe red and dark red fruit to draw you in. But it's clearly not at the level of the 2016. 90/91pts.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2023 - sirpat00 wrote: 93 Points
Bordeaux 2021 Arrivage Tasting (Dolder Grand, Zurich): Red and blue berry type of fruit, earth, graphite. This is an intense and multidimensional, densely packed wine, but in an elegant fashion. Juicy palate, felt just a bit unripe and with a slightly wobbly balance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2022 - vvWine.ch wrote: 94 Points
(93-95 vvPunkte) Sehr dichte Farbe. Betörende Nase, tiefgründig, noch leicht vom Fass geprägt, dahinter eine wunderbar dunkle, reine Frucht, florale Töne, Cassis, ein Gedicht. Im Gaumen kräftig, zeigt Druck, Konzentration, die Tannine sind von höchster Güte, ausgezeichnet die Balance, hier treffen Kraft und Eleganz aufeinander. Vielleicht der schönste Clinet, der mich vor allem mit seinem frischen Stil überzeugt. 2026-2045+ (Verkostet "En Primeur" im April 2022. UCGB) vvWine.ch
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
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. 93-95
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2022 - WineTally Likes this wine:
75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
from 11.5 ha of mixed gravel, clay, and iron-rich sandy soils
and vines of average age 45 yrs planted 6,777-7,200/ha.
“La Grand Vigne", a special parcel of old-vine merlot is horse-ploughed.
Vinified (since 2014) in 17 temperature-controlled, double-walled,
stainless steel vats (25-45 HL). Malolactic in both French oak barrels and vats.
Aging 18-22 months in French (incl. 5% German and Austrian) oak barrels (60% new).
13% Abv.
Background: Planted as early as 1785, Clinet was bought by
Jean-Louis Laborde in late 1998.
In 2004 son Robnan Laborde (a marathoner and head of the
Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux) took charge.
Proprietors: Ronan Laborde and spouse Monique Bailly
Barrel Sample presented in May 2022.
A(ccuray)=2: Med deep ruby. Robust, woodsy Merlot blend.
B(alance)=2: Ripe fruit with fine structure.
C(omplexity)=2: Dark berries, plum, oak tannin, chalky minerality.
D(epth)=2: Round mouthfeel. Full palate and long finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,2,2,2]= 8/10
Age should improve on the balance.
For story-telling label graphics, see:
[https://www.instagram.com/p/Cei35yxJAHt/]
[https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/]
For a video explanation of WineTally (in 8 languages) see:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2qWL0bXxgE
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2022 - chatters wrote:
En-Primeur campaign for the 2021 vintage; 4/25/2022-4/29/2022 (Bordeaux): Initially aromas show quite a lot of clay, with time some red berry fruit that has a slightly sharp herbaceous note, cedar, plenty of savoury spice. Sour on the palate, quite green, hard acidity and equally hard tannins, woody, pretty bad
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)