Clinet

History of Château Clinet  

The history of Château Clinet has its roots in the early 17th century, when the Gombault family began cultivating vines on these lands. However, it was at the end of the 18th century that the estate's winegrowing vocation was fully confirmed. In 1785, the famous Belleyme map revealed a vineyard entirely dedicated to wine production.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Château Clinet changed hands and passed to the Arnaud family, who also owned the famous Petrus estate. This era marked a turning point in the estate's history, laying the foundations for a tradition of quality. After several changes of ownership during the 19th century, the estate was acquired in 1908 by the Audy family, Bordeaux wine merchants, who would invest time and effort to improve the quality of the wines.

The 1980s were a key period for Château Clinet, under the direction of Jean-Michel Arcaute, son-in-law of Georges Audy. The former introduced revolutionary methods for the time, such as green harvesting and harvesting overripe grapes. These innovations allowed the estate to rise among the best in Pomerol.

In 1999, the estate was acquired by Jean-Louis Laborde, a passionate entrepreneur, who handed over management to his son Ronan Laborde in 2003. Under the latter's direction, Château Clinet continues its quest for perfection, with a vision anchored in the future and eco-responsible practices.

The 1989 vintage of Château Clinet achieved perfection with 100/100 from Robert Parker. The 2018, 2016, 1990, 2015 and 2019 vintages also received remarkable scores of 97/100.

Terroirs and Vines of Château Clinet  

Château Clinet is ideally situated on the Pomerol plateau, benefiting from an exceptional terroir that gives its wines their richness and intensity. The estate's 11 hectares of vines are planted on clay-gravel soils, with a presence of iron-rich subsoil, typical of this renowned wine region. This unique terroir gives Clinet wines a solid structure and great aromatic complexity.

The vineyard's grape varieties highlight the flagship variety of the right bank of Bordeaux, Merlot, which represents 85% of the planted area. This variety brings silky texture and depth to the wines. Added to this are 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, which adds significant tannic structure, and 5% Cabernet Franc, which contributes to the finesse and freshness of the wines. The vines are on average 42 years old, which allows for grapes of great concentration and quality.

The privileged location of the estate, at an altitude reaching 35 metres, allows for good natural drainage, essential for the quality of the grapes. In 2022, Château Clinet expanded its vineyard with the acquisition of Château Lécuyer, some plots of which have been integrated into Clinet's cuvées.

Winemaking at Château Clinet  

The winemaking process at Château Clinet combines tradition and modernity, respecting the terroir. Each plot is vinified separately in truncated oak or stainless steel vats, allowing perfect control of fermentations and precise temperature control. This technical choice contributes to the complexity and diversity of the estate's wines.

Since 2014, Château Clinet has been using 17 stainless steel vats for vinification, allowing for an even finer plot-by-plot approach. The grapes are hand-harvested, ensuring meticulous selection of berries to guarantee optimal quality of the wine produced. This attention to detail continues during the ageing of the wines, which takes place in French oak barrels, with a 60% renewal each year. The wines stay there for between 18 and 22 months, during which time they acquire their tannic structure, aromatic complexity and exceptional ageing potential.

The cuvées of Château Clinet  

Château Clinet produces several remarkable cuvées, each reflecting the unique identity of the terroir and the grape varieties used.

Château Clinet

The estate's grand vin, made primarily from Merlot, with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, is recognised for its silky texture, aromas of ripe black fruits, truffle and chocolate, and powerful tannic structure. The best vintages, such as 1989, 1990 and 2009, have received rave reviews, including perfect scores from Robert Parker. The 2018 vintage is also considered a great success, combining elegance and depth.

Fleur de Clinet

The estate's second wine, introduced in 1997, offers an affordable entry point into the world of Château Clinet. This cuvée is made from the estate's young vines and is characterised by its vibrant fruitiness, truffle notes and pulpy touch. Accessible from its youngest age, Fleur de Clinet is a wine that seduces with its balance and lusciousness.

Ronan By Clinet 

This cuvée, launched under the impetus of Ronan Laborde, offers an accessible yet elegant Bordeaux wine that reflects the expertise and know-how of Château Clinet. Available in red and white versions, this range is aimed at a wider audience while retaining the qualitative DNA of the estate.

Pomerol, one of Bordeaux's most prestigious appellations, has produced some of the finest wines over the decades. The most notable vintages include 1970, 1975, 1982, 1983, 1989, and 1990, renowned for their complexity and longevity. Other exceptional years such as 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 continue to delight fine wine enthusiasts. More recently, the vintages 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 have confirmed Pomerol's ability to offer wines of exceptional quality, thus cementing the appellation's reputation amongst Bordeaux's finest.

Discover the other great châteaux of Pomerol, true treasures of the Right Bank, where each estate rivals in excellence. Beyond the legendary Pétrus, explore prestigious names such as Beauregard, Bon Pasteur, Clinet, Gazin, Haut Trochaud, L'Eglise Clinet, La Conseillante, La Fleur Pétrus, Lafleur, Le Pin, Latour à Pomerol, Nénin, Trotanoy, or even Vieux Château Certan. These estates, often compared to the great classified growths of Saint-Émilion, offer a unique experience, rich in finesse and character, which will delight connoisseurs of fine wines. 

Château Clinet has established itself today as one of the most prestigious wine estates in Pomerol. With a centuries-old history, cutting-edge cultivation practices and an exceptional terroir, this estate continues to produce wines of exceptional quality. Whether to savour a recent vintage or to invest in a great wine for ageing, Château Clinet's cuvées delight fine wine enthusiasts with their elegance, complexity and generosity. The Laborde family's constant commitment to combining tradition and modernity guarantees Château Clinet a special place in the panorama of great Bordeaux wines. The care taken at every stage of production, from working the vines to winemaking, makes Clinet a must for passionate wine lovers and collectors of fine wines.