Chateau Clinet lies at the highest point of the Pomerol Plateau on the Gunz gravel terrace, origin of the appellation’s most prestigious crus. It’s a remarkable terroir of old gravel and deep clay over a subsoil of clinker. The vines sink roots 5 metres deep where they are gently warmed by naturally occurring volcanic stones.

The estate has been producing some of the world’s most prestigious wines for centuries. The Belleyme Map, published in 1785, shows the terroir of Chateau Clinet was already exclusively under vine.

Since the 1980s, Jean-Michel Arcaute has managed the vineyard. He has been instrumental in revolutionizing them, replanting with Merlot instead of Cabernet and introducing hand-harvesting, manual selection, and a longer cuvaison.

Merlot accounts for the vast majority of grape varieties (90%) with the remainder being made up of Cabernet-Sauvignon (9%) and Cabernet Franc (1%). The total area under vine is 11.3 hectares and the average age of the vines is 40 years.

The vines are grown with total respect for the environment, giving pride of place to tilling and grassing rather than using chemicals and the human hand over machines.

The vinification process for Chateau Clinet aims to maintain the freshness, finesse and character. Harvesting is always carried out manually, and following meticulous selection, gravity delivers the grapes to the vats. The cellar layout allows good traceability from the vineyard to the end of the aging period. The production of a well-defined parcel can be followed in each vat, then each barrel.

On average, fermentation and maceration lasts for one month, whereupon the wine is transferred into barrels. ‘Free run’ wines are separated from ‘pressed’ wines, and then aged separately. The wine is aged in French oak barrels. around 60 percent new with the remaining being one-year old.

The 2021 Clinet Bordeaux Blend, hailing from the esteemed Pomerol sub-region of Bordeaux, France, is a red wine composed of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. This vintage is noted for its structured and complex profile, with an alcohol content of 13.0% and sealed with a traditional cork closure.

The wine has garnered high praise from various professional reviewers, reflecting its quality and potential. Jane Anson, writing for janeanson.com, awarded it 94 points, praising its "plenty of black chocolate, smoked pepper and truffle" and describing it as "sculpted and extremely attractive." She did note, however, that the wine is "unusually austere for Clinet" and recommends additional aging to fully soften its edges.

Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com also rated the wine 94 points, highlighting its "depth of color" and a plethora of aromas including "flowers, tobacco leaves, espresso, truffle, mint, cedar, black cherries, incense, and chocolatey plums." He emphasized its "lift, energy, polish, length, and an edgy finish," suggesting a drinking window from 2025 to 2045.

Jeb Dunnuck's review on jebdunnuck.com gave the wine 93 points, describing it as a "deep ruby/plum-hued beauty" with a "great bouquet of ripe black cherries, blackberries, leafy tobacco, and spring flowers." He noted the wine's "beautifully integrated oak, fine tannins, and a gorgeous finish," acknowledging its current drinkability while recommending further aging for optimal enjoyment.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, through reviewer William Kelley, rated the wine 92+ points, noting its aromas of "dark berries, plums and licorice mingled with hints of mint and orange zest." Kelley found the wine to be "medium to full-bodied" with a "sweet core of fruit" and "sweet, powdery tannins."

Vinous' Antonio Galloni gave the wine 94 points, calling it "bold, explosive and dense," and commending its "tremendous energy and tension." He indicated that this modern style Pomerol will be enjoyable upon release and has aging potential.

Decanter provided one of the highest scores with 95 points, describing the 2021 Clinet as "richly scented, dark and roguish" with "nuance of red berry flavor and real persistency." The review highlighted the wine's "supreme balance" and "charming but also confident" nature.

Wine Spectator's JM gave it 91 points, noting a "frankly toasted style" with "bittersweet cocoa notes" and a core of "black cherry and plum fruit," suggesting a drinking window through 2034.

In summary, the 2021 Clinet Bordeaux Blend is a wine of substantial quality, characterized by its rich, complex flavors and considerable aging potential. It has received strong reviews across the board, with notable praise for its depth, structure, and aromatic complexity.