CLINET 2011

Ruby purple. Dark fruits and coffee on the musky, slightly reduced nose. Broad, ripe and dry, with a graceful texture to the deep flavors of cassis, black cherry and dark chocolate. Began rather monolithic but showed emerging sweetness and very good grip with aeration. Finishes with a firm spine of acidity and mouthcoating tannins, with lingering hints of ripe dark fruits and tobacco.

Clinet has produced a blockbuster wine, even in the lighter, less consistent vintage of 2011. It reveals a dense purple color as well as an abundance of black cherry, black currant and blackberry fruit intermixed with licorice, incense and a touch of camphor. Full-bodied, opulent and fleshy with a substantial finish, this showy, dramatic 2011 should drink well for 15-20 years. Brilliant!