Château Le Thil Comte Clary 2017

James Suckling

A firm, lightly chewy red with depth and interest for this estate in this vintage. Medium to full body. Black fruit with dark chocolate and terracotta. Flavorful finish. A blend of 95% merlot and 5% cabernet franc. Drink after 2022.

Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

VertdeVin

The nose is fresh, aromatic, racy, quite fine and offers a fine power. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, wild fruits and fine notes of wild strawberry associated with fine touches of chocolate as well as hints of oak. There is a subtle hint of flowers/eucalyptus (in the background) after aerating. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, slightly tight and offers a good definition, a fine acid fram (in the background), a good tannin structure, a good freshness, fullness as well as a fine juiciness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of cassis, blackberry, wild strawberry and touches of small wild fruits/berries as well as fine touches of toasted oak, cocoa, cedar and a subtle/discreet hint of black tea. Tannins are slightly firm. Good length. There is a fine hint of caramelization and nut on the persistence.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2016 Chateau le Thil (Comte Clary), one of the properties owned by Daniel and Florence Cathiard of Smith Haut Lafittte, is 100% Merlot this year since the Cabernet Sauvignon was pulled up and replaced with Cabernet Franc a couple of years ago. The nose is clean and pure, not powerful, with scents of boysenberry jam and crushed strawberry. The palate is medium-bodied with an attractive minerally opening, a little masculine and aloof, but nicely balanced and it builds in the mouth towards quite an elegant mulberry and black plum finish. Certainly the more clayey soils benefit this 2016 compared to the 2016 Cantelys grown on gravel soils, as it has more body and more length. Drink it over the next six or seven years.