Parker 90 Punkte
I had high hopes for this wine prior to bottling, but Clinet often goes through a reduced, awkward stage following bottling. The 1998 reveals a dense, thick-looking purple color, as well as a closed bouquet. With coaxing, notes of damp earth, spicy new oak, truffles, blackberry and plum fruit emerge. Dense, with jagged tannin, considerable power, and a roasted, chocolatey character, this wine has not yet meshed together. I had hoped it would be less disjointed, but I still feel there is a strong likelihood that it will deserve an outstanding score. However, patience will be required.
WineSpectator 93 Punkte
Big and powerful, with lots of olive, brown sugar and jam. Soft and full, with round tannins. A voluptuous and wild wine. Juicy and exotic. Why wait on this full-throttle red? 100 percent Merlot