From the high plateau of Pomerol to the Laborde family estate
Château Clinet is located in the heart of Pomerol, about 40 kilometers east of Bordeaux, on one of the highest points of the plateau. Old maps of the estate prove vine plantings since 1785. This makes Clinet one of the oldest vineyards in the appellation. The ownership changed several times: Early owners included the Constant and Arnaud families, who simultaneously owned Pétrus. From 1900 to 1991, the estate belonged to the Bordeaux merchant family Audy.
Towards the end of the 1970s, Jean-Michel Arcaute took over the management. He wanted to restore Clinet to the rank the estate had in the early 19th century. He switched to hand-picking and changed the grape variety proportions. How serious he was became apparent in 1984, when the estate declassified its entire harvest. In 1991, the insurer Gan bought the estate, followed by Jean-Louis Laborde at the end of 1998. From the 2004 vintage, his son Ronan Laborde has been running the business.
Clay, gravel and lots of Merlot: How Clinet works
The vines stand on a mosaic of clay and gravel. Such soils suit the Merlot, which forms the core in the vineyard. However, Clinet stands out due to an unusually high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon for Pomerol. It gives the wines structure and freshness alongside the fullness of the Merlot.
Since taking over in 2004, Ronan Laborde has been driving modernization. This includes new plantings, denser planting, fewer new barriques and a renovation of the cellar technology. Harvesting is done by hand so that only selected grapes come into the cellar.
From the Grand Vin to the By Clinet line
The Grand Vin is a Pomerol made from Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon. For the 2019 vintage, the Merlot share was 88%, for the 2020 vintage 80%. Typical are dark fruit such as plum and cherry, plus violets, licorice and fine spices. The texture is velvety, carried by lively acidity and ripe tannins.
With the By Clinet line, the estate took a different path. Instead of buying additional vineyards, it works with selected winemakers. This includes Pomerol by Clinet and Ronan by Clinet. The wines follow the house philosophy and are designed to be more accessible and drinkable than the Grand Vin. Ronan by Clinet, for example, is a single-varietal Merlot from winemakers from appellations such as Côtes de Castillon, Côtes de Bourg and Lussac Saint-Émilion. If you want to get to know Clinet's signature without starting with the Grand Vin, this line offers you the access.
