Château Clinet

Château Clinet is among the oldest wine estates in the Pomerol appellation, with historical maps from 1785 documenting the presence of vines on the property. For much of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the estate passed through several families, including the Constants and the Arnauds, the latter of whom concurrently owned the neighboring Petrus. From 1900 to 1991, the Audy family managed the property as Bordeaux negociants before selling it to an insurance company. The modern era of the estate began with Jean Michel Arcaute, who introduced technical modernizations in the 1980s. Jean Louis Laborde purchased the property in 1998, and his son, Ronan Laborde, has managed operations since 2004.

The vineyard covers 11.5 hectares situated on the highest point of the Pomerol plateau. The terroir is characterized by deep clay soils and iron rich Gunz gravel, which provides a natural drainage system. While Merlot is the dominant grape, the estate is notable for maintaining an unusually high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon for the region, reaching up to 25 percent in some vintages. This specific varietal mix contributes structure and freshness to the wines. Winemaking involves manual harvesting and a gravity fed cellar built in 2004. The wines undergo aging for 16 to 22 months in French oak barrels, typically using approximately 80 percent new wood.

The flagship wine, Château Clinet, earned significant international attention after receiving perfect 100 point scores for its 1989 and 2009 vintages. It is recognized for a style that combines concentrated dark fruit with the structure provided by its Cabernet Sauvignon component. In addition to the grand vin, the estate produces a second wine named Fleur de Clinet, which is made from specific plots and younger vines. The family also operates a separate brand called Ronan by Clinet, which offers approachable Bordeaux AOC wines. The estate remains a prominent reference point in Pomerol, reflecting the shift toward precision viticulture and artisanal management in the Right Bank.