1989 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol 1x750ml

Vinous 93

The 1989 Clinet can be variable nowadays, and generally, I feel this peaked around 15 years ago. Nonetheless, it remains a very fine Pomerol. Savory on the nose with morels and meat juices, it does actually meliorate and gain freshness with aeration. There’s just a bit more VA compared to the Petrus. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet core of fruit, kirsch and veins of blue fruit. It is slightly glossy on the finish, with (again) some VA blurring the edges. It’s a bit raucous for a Pomerol, but it is a lot of fun. Tasted at the 1989 Bordeaux dinner at 67 Pall Mall. [Neal Martin, 07/02/2024]

Anticipated maturity: 2024-2034

Robert Parker 96

The Clinet 1989 has a perfumed nose with intense violet aromas that explode from the glass, followed by macerated dark cherries, incense and creme de cassis. The palate is full-bodied with a velvety texture. It has an intensity that is second to none, a penetration that gives the senses no option but to heed its complexity and generosity. Compared to the magnum served last year, this bottle example is a little further down its evolutionary path with hints of molasses and mushroom on the finish. It is a great Clinet with doubt, although large formats will now be the real deal. Tasted December 2013. [Neal Martin, 12/01/2013]