WOW- Wine of the Week, the Hidden Gem of Pomerol
I wouldn’t be a good Sommelier if I didn’t have a great wine recommendation for you. Every Friday, I’ll make one, usually from a different region- you might just discover wines and styles you never knew existed.
If you’re a California wine lover, you’re going to love this hidden gem from the Pomerol region in Bordeaux, France. Like California wine, it is full bodied, higher alcohol, with lots of black fruits. It can be rich, opulent, even hedonistic.
But, instead of a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon, this one only has a little, and that makes it strange for Pomerol, because most wines from that region have none. They are mostly Merlot and Cab Franc.
The Chateau Clinet 2016, however, has lots of Merlot and some Cabernet Sauvignon, instead of Cab Franc. The breakdown is 88% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. This turned out to be a lighter wine than I thought, but it was fantastic. Loads of black fruits, some vanilla, a succulent, juicy mouthfeel with just a bit of earth.
Just like California wines feature the fruit, so does the 2016 Chateau Clinet. Better yet, you can get it at Total Wine like I did, so you don’t have to order it from around the world.
I made a video all about Pomerol, and in this video, we open and taste the 2016 Chateau Clinet.