The 2014 Chateau Clinet purple-ruby-tinted red colour gives way to a very aromatic nose, dominated by delicious notes of jammed raspberry, dark berry and liquorice. Those fragrances then evolve into more peppery and toasted fragrances. On the palate, this Pomerol possesses a creamy and silky texture since Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc prevail on the Merlot. Both intense and sweet, the palate reveals cherry and forest fruit aromas. It is a balanced and refreshing wine that foreshadows the success of a beautiful vintage.
The 2014 Clinet was a wine that perplexed when I tasted it from barrel and as a consequence, it was one that I went back and retasted three or four times during that primeur campaign. Now in bottle, the bouquet has improved and developed more fruit concentration, armed with red plum, wild strawberry and blueberry scents. The palate is medium-bodied and quite refined, certainly not as opulent as other vintages from the estate, perhaps just missing a persistence on the angular finish. It is not a bad Clinet by a long stretch, it just feels a little constricted, especially compared to say the 2010 or 2015. I tasted this on three occasions, drawing the same conclusion each time.