Château Feytit-Clinet 2019

Château Feytit Clinet was considered an unremarkable estate in Pomerol for much of the 20th Century, yet it has experienced a phenomenal turnaround.  This property lies west of the prestigious Pomerol plateau, where the stars of the region like Le Pin, Château Pétrus and Château Trotanoy bask in the limelight.  Yet with all that in mind, the estate is an incredible Pomerol producer whose scores have been increasing since the talented Jeremy Chasseuil took over operations.  It is without a doubt a property that merits much distinction in one of the most prestigious wine regions in the world.
 
The earliest records of Château Feytit Clinet date all the way back to 1825 when it was owned by a member of the de Goumbalt family.  By 1964 the property entered a lease agreement with the Moueix family, owners of the incomparable Château Pétrus.  Château Feytit Clinet had some impressive neighbors, including L’Eglise Clinet and Latour à Pomerol and it was only a matter of time before it would attract attention from many interested buyers.  In 2000, a young and fiery gentleman named Jeremy Chasseuil set his sights on purchasing the property.  There was one problem, the city of Bordeaux owned 50% of the vineyards.  Jeremy not only needed to purchase those plots, but he had to prove he could manage such a property.  Thankfully, due to his skills, he was able to prove himself a worthy owner of Château Feytit Clinet.  A passion for wine runs in the bloodline of the Chasseuil family, and Jeremy’s father, Michel, has one of the largest, most interesting wine collections in the world.  He even wrote a book on this collection, titling it, “100 Vintage Treasures.” Prior to Jeremy’s ownership, Château Feytit Clinet was not taken seriously by the Parkers and Ansons of the world.  But all that would soon change. 
 
Jeremy Chasseuil made grand, sweeping changes at the estate.  He reduced the yields and switched the property over to green harvesting.  The tiny 7-hectare parcel of land, planted with 90% Merlot vines and 10% Cabernet Franc vines is now harvested entirely by hand.  These vines are 30 years old on average, and thrive in the heavily graveled, clay and sandy soils.  Jeremy also lowered the yields over at Château Feytit Clinet by over half, resulting in a richer and more concentrated wine.  In addition to making changes in the vineyard, Jeremy made plenty of changes in the vat room. The grapes are sorted twice before and after destemming and are now vinified in concrete to preserve freshness. The wine remains on its lees – which is a technique often used in Burgundy – for several months.  This yields a fuller-bodied wine, with a roundness, weight, and depth.  Jeremy Chasseuil also increased the percentage of new oak barriques from 25 to 75%, resulting in a wine with more structure, and greater aromas of dark chocolate and truffle.  For those who love powerful, rich wines, Château Feytit Clinet is an especially dense Pomerol, with complexity and nuance aplenty.

"The 2019 Feytit-Clinet was cropped at 34hl/ha between 18 September and 3 October and matured in 70% new oak for an expected 16 months. It is understated at first and demands coaxing from the glass. It rewards you with pure black fruit, freshly shaved black truffles and touches of crushed stone. The palate is magnificent: precise tannins, a perfect line of acidity, impressive complexity and amazing focus. Oddly it reminds me of a Lafleur, though there is much less Cabernet Franc here. Unquestionably, this is the best Feytit-Clinet that Jeremy Chasseuil has overseen and I cannot wait to taste it in bottle." - Neal Martin, vinous, (June, 2020), Ratings: 93-95, Drink: 2024-2050

"The 2019 Feytit Clinet rolls sensuously from the glass with notions of baked plums, Black Forest cake and blueberry preserves with touches of Chinese five spice, potpourri, dusty soil and garrigue. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with ripe, rich black fruits, supported by plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and spicy. This 6.68-hectare vineyard is situated between Trotanoy and Latour à Pomerol on gravel and sand-based soils." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, (6/17/2020, Bordeaux 2019 Issue), Rating: 93-95