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Château Feytit-Clinet

Up until the 1999 vintage, Château Feytit-Clinet was operated by the Moueix family on a tenancy agreement, and the wines had a reputation of being solid but hardly exciting. After a long-running legal confrontation, however, the Chasseuil family, who own the property, regained control. Jeremy Chasseuil, previously winemaker at a string of local estates, including Château Larmande, La Dominique, Gazin and Clos des Jacobins, has been in charge since the exciting 2000 vintage. For Jeremy this action closes a loop, as it was his own father that had first planted the vineyard.

This is a tiny property, with just 6.5 hectares of argilo-silicious and argillaceous soils, planted with 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, at a density of up to 6000 vines/ha; the average vine age is over 20 years. The vineyards are located close to the heart of the Pomerol appellation, just down the road from Clos L'Eglise, L'Eglise Clinet and Clinet itself. These are just a few of Feytit-Clinet's illustrious neighbours; across the road are the vineyards of Latour à Pomerol. There is no grand château here, despite the label's declaration; the wine is made in a garage at the back of the property, although all the equipment is modern. Fermentation is temperature controlled and the wine sees a long soak to increase extraction before up to twelve months in oak.

With Chasseuil in charge quality is said to have improved dramatically in recent years, beginning with the 2000 vintage. Yields are kept low, less than 40 hl/ha is very typical. Tasting recent vintages I was very impressed by these wines, especially as they showed a certain restraint; there is no over-extraction here, and together with fresh acidity this makes for a nicely balanced wine. (27/7/06)

Contact details:
Address: 33500 Pomerol
Telephone: +33 (0) 5 57 25 52 27
Fax: +33 (0) 5 57 25 93 97
GPS: 44.934936, -0.210285

Château Feytit-Clinet - Tasting Notes

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Château Feytit-Clinet (Pomerol) 2010: Rather a dark and glossy hue here, black-crimson at its core, with a narrow crimson rim. The nose has a very dense fruit character, showing sweet confit style laced with elements of coffee and honey. Nevertheless it is more restrained on the palate than I expected, the wine having quite a cool style at the start. It relaxes from this rather stern beginning into a broader more reposed style in the middle, but it still has a rather upright, potter's clay character. This is proper Pomerol! Quite elegant, seductive, with moderate acidity and a nicely judged layer of charcoaly tannins. Long and showing structure on the finish. This has a lot of promise. From my Bordeaux 2010 primeurs assessment. 17-18/20 (April 2011)

Château Feytit-Clinet (Pomerol) 2006: Open black fruit on the nose, a sweet bubblegum style, certainly rather confected, but it is a very young wine. Rather lean on the palate, with a little grip and rather soft, gentle acidity. Not enough flesh on its bones for me, although this may develop in barrel I suppose. There is some potential here. From my 2006 Bordeaux assessment. 15-16+/20 (April 2007)

Château Feytit-Clinet (Pomerol) 2005: M 95%, CF 5%. A dense, glossy, deeply coloured wine. Lots of ripe fruit here, finely polished blueberries with a sheen of oak on the nose. Quite fine on the palate, but succulent and appealing. A lovely fruit profile featuring fresh damsons. Showing an elegant texture through the midpalate despite plenty of ripeness here. Subtle tannins. Impressive. From my 2005 Bordeaux en primeur tasting. 17-18/20 (April 2006)

Château Feytit-Clinet (Pomerol) 2003: A lovely, appealing colour here. A fine nose, showing well delineated fruit, fresh and peppery. It suggests richness and creaminess, if that's possible. One the palate, however, it has a really nice, elegant, balanced style, really out of keeping with what I would expect from the 2003 vintage. Restrained red fruit profile, fresh and balanced, with a very ripe structure. Crisp acidity cutting through the attractive texture. I like this; very good indeed. 17.5/20 (April 2006)

Château Feytit-Clinet (Pomerol) 2000: Dark, impressive, still with a youthful, purple tinge. Very meaty, organic and complex, with notes of pickling spice. Ripe, full, rounded, big and impressive style, this wine presents a full and welcoming texture draped over a firm tannic structure. This is very good indeed, and speaks clearly of the vintage. Perhaps surprisingly, though, I find the freshness of the 2003 more enticing. 17/20 (April 2006)