Chateau Clos du Clocher 2017

DECANTER: "Touches of bitter black chocolate here, this is structured and softly tannic with walls and a sense of concentration and restraint. Great quality and impressive work by Clos de Clocher, and has clearly come into its own with a few years in bottle. One of the few 2017s that, for me, has improved since En Primeur, even if still a wine that will be best enjoyed young. A yield of 45hl/ha, 65% new oak. Drinking Window 2022 - 2034"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "With 25% Cabernet Franc in the blend, this wine has an attractive perfumed black-fruit character that points up the rich Merlot. The wine, from a fine Pomerol estate, is still young, full of ripe fruitiness as well as a solid tannin base. Drink the wine from 2023."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Clos du Clocher bursts from the glass with bold blueberry preserves, Christmas cake and baked plums scents plus nuances of raspberry leaves, unsmoked cigar and tapenade. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals mouth-filling blackberry and spicy layers, framed by firm, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Plenty of tar and berry character with hints of stones and fresh herbs. Medium body, bright acidity and medium-fine tannins at the end. Lovely now. Balanced red. Drink or hold."

WEINWISSER: "Undurchsichtiges Purpur. Opulentes Bouquet mit Brombeerkonfitüre, dahinter Holundergelee, Kokos und Veilchen, dahinter dunkle Edelhölzer, Schokopastillen und Tabak. Seidige Textur mit blitzblank polierten Tanninen und perfekt stützender Frische. Im gebündelten Finale mit dichter, schwarzbeeriger Frucht und Lakritze. Gehört dieses Jahr mit Rouget zu den fruchtigsten Pomerols."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, feiner Nougat, schwarze Kirschen, ein Hauch von Weichseln, zarte Kräuterwürze unterlegt. Straff, reife Brombeerfrucht, frische Herzkirschen, präsente Tannine, mineralisch, dezente Extraktsüße im Nachhall."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Quite floral with black raspberry, cherry and plum notes, the wine is medium bodied, silky and soft with a good-sized jolt of verve in the finish."

JEB DUNNUCK: "An 80/20 split of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Clos Du Clocher is an outstanding 2017 that's well worth buying and cellaring. Terrific notes of black cherries, chocolate, leafy herbs, and a kiss of forest floor all emerge from the glass, and it's medium-bodied, textured, and offers loads of pleasure. It's going to keep for 15+ years."