CHATEAU CLINET POMEROL
Wines have been produced on the land that became Château Clinet since at least the beginning of the seventeenth century. Owned successively by families committed to excellence, Château Clinet began its modern ascension in the mid-1980s and is now viewed as one of Pomerol’s top estates.
The estate’s modern rise began under Jean-Michel Arcaute, who, along with support from oenologist Michel Rolland, revamped the estate. Arcaute ripped out much of the Cabernet Sauvignon that had occupied the vineyards and replaced it with Merlot. More significantly, perhaps, he also reintroduced hand-harvesting to the winemaking of Clinet, and insisted on manual selection and longer cuvaison. His efforts were rewarded with his ’89 and ’90 vintages, as both earned scores of 100 from Robert Parker and resounding acclaim from critics worldwide.
Jean-Louis Laborde purchased Château Clinet in 1998 and has built upon the extensive work of his predecessors. Since 2003, Laborde’s son Ronan has run the estate. A passionate wine lover with a background in business and marketing, Ronan is actively continuing the history of excellence at Clinet.