Château Clerc Milon 2020

Sleek and refined, with a very fine-grained structure supporting a core of black currant and black cherry reduction notes along with hints of chalky minerality and sweet tobacco. The long finish has cut and energy, thanks to savory nuance. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenère. Best from 2026 through 2038.

Subtle, delicate, not shouting but delivering a really nuanced glass of wine with lots of fresh acidity and soft sweetness, with a herbal element giving spiced red fruits in the glass. Feels less serious than d'Armailhac, more upfront and open, but with lovely detail too. Soft, with such high acidity, really so lifted in the glass, a lovely purity, clean and clear. I love the grippy tannins that almost cleanse the palate, leaving a crushed-velvet texture on the tongue with plenty of generosity. Super appealing and already very pleasant and enjoyable to drink.

Blackcurrants, black licorice, violets and lavender. Aromatic and perfumed. Full- to medium-bodied with tension and focus, and very fine, linear tannins that run the length of the wine. Starting to close now. Serious Clerc. Better after 2029.

The 2020 Clerc Milon is a total knock-out. The 2020 has come together impressively with élevage. It offers up a heady mix of blueberry jam, crème de cassis, chocolate, new leather, spice and crushed rocks, with a ton of Cabernet Sauvignon character driving the overall feel.

The nose opens with a display of flowers, cherry pipe tobacco, spices, and currants. Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh, crisp, and clean, there is a nice sense of purity to the array of red fruits along with a touch of spice, and vibrancy in the refined, soft, mildly dusty finish. This is going to be gorgeous to enjoy in its youth, although it clearly has the ability to age and improve for 2-3 decades with ease. Drink from 2025-2050.

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, opaque core, delicate rim brightening. Nuances of cassis and fresh cherries, orange zest, a touch of precious wood and nougat, multi-faceted bouquet. Complex, taut, fresh dark berry fruit, cherries, delicate fruit sweetness, ripe, supporting tannins, shows length and certain ageing potential, secure future, a versatile food companion. (2025-2045).

Floral, dark-fruited, perfumed with violet, crème de cassis and great purity. Dense but not opulent palate with bright freshness, exemplary tannins with some graphite and coffee bean notes leading to a very long finish. A classically structured and pure Pauillac with excellent polish. The best young Clerc-Milon I have ever tasted.

The 2020 Château Clerc Milon brings another level of finesse and is a big step up over the Pastourelle. Kirsch, blackberries, graphite, lead pencil shavings, and a crushed stone-like sense of minerality give way to a full-bodied, nicely concentrated, tannic 2020 that's balanced and has terrific purity, followed by a great finish. A serious Pauillac, it warrants 7-8 years of bottle age and will have 20-25+ years of overall prime drinking.

Intense bouquet of blackcurrant, Burley tobacco and blackberry jelly. On the generous palate, creamy texture, balanced verve, good support, a refined salty note and a well‑trained frame. The focused, aromatic finish shows dark berries, cardamom and chocolate pastilles. A classic that also ages superbly.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: (53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot) Deep, velvety, complex, dense bouquet, black cassis, plum, Black Currant, licorice, graphite, flint. Tightly knit, powerful, elegant palate with a muscular, velvety structure, dense dark fruit, plenty of fine tannins, varied, intense aromatics, very long, dense, aromatic finish with many lingering flavors. Can improve further.

(53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot) Deep, velvety, complex, dense bouquet, black cassis, plum, black currant, licorice, graphite, flint. Tightly knit, powerful, elegant palate with a muscular, velvety structure, dense dark fruit, plenty of fine tannins, varied, intense aromatics, very long, dense, aromatic finish with many lingering flavors. Can improve further. 18/20 2028 - 2050

Opulent damson and spiced chocolate, graphite, fresh acidities, crushed mint leaf and eucalyptus, restrained but vibrant precision. This is well structured, spreading outwards and upwards, with chewy tannins that have grip. Harvest from September 9 to 29. New director Caroline Artaud arrived for the harvest this year and has overseen a hugely successful wine, 60% new oak.

Made from 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36.5% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, and 0.5% Carmenere, the 2020 Clerc Milon is deep garnet-purple in color. Quite shut down on the nose, it offers glimpses at notes of black and red cherries, blackcurrant jelly, and forest floor, with suggestions of charcoal and bay leaves. The medium-bodied palate is soft and refreshing, with delicate red and black fruit layers and a lifted finish.

95-96

It is very sharp, with lovely density and great depth on the palate, offering a creamy edge to the fruit expression yet remaining upright and precise on the finish. Broad and fleshy, it is set for a bright future. It reflects the shift made in recent years toward crafting a more structured wine.

A deep, dark, and rich bouquet with lovely density, featuring notes of ripe plum and mint chocolate chip. Very generous on the palate, it’s a complete wine—rounded and full—while remaining airy. A silky texture, with body and freshness. Indulgent tannins on the finish.

The bouquet unfolds with great elegance and finesse, almost restraint, but above all with freshness. Everything is in place, the olfactory DNA is evident, and Clerc Milon is already clearly defined on the nose. This bodes well for the palate, which can only live up to the aromatic promises. Dense and youthful, the wine shines with powerful, supple tannins, a structuring, mouthwatering acidity, and an aromatic expression that runs from the attack through to the finish. A Clerc Milon true to itself, opening up delightful prospects while being more approachable than usual.

The nose is fruity, vibrant, and offers a certain finely controlled concentration, depth, and a lovely, indulgent yet elegant fruit. It reveals notes of vibrant blackberry and raspberry, and more lightly cherry, combined with touches of ripe red berries, zan, as well as hints of cubeb pepper, nutmeg, graphite, discreet touches of green cardamom, bergamot, cornflower, licorice, and an imperceptible hint of citrus zest/Timut pepper. The palate is fruity and balanced, offering juiciness, freshness, beautiful delicacy, gourmandise, an airy character, a subtly tight grain, precise power, refined tension, depth, and roundness. On the palate, the wine expresses notes of pulpy/bright blackcurrant and bright cherry, and more lightly pulpy/juicy small red berries, combined with touches of vibrant blackberry, as well as hints of cherry blossom and violet, a discreet hint of green cardamom, star anise, chocolate, and a subtle hint of hazelnut. Very discreet touches of eucalyptus/varietal character on the finish add pep. One of the best Château Clerc Milon tasted en primeur. The tannins are fine and elegant.

Dark red and purple color. Very aromatic nose, fruity, ripe, with cocoa notes and a touch of spice. Delicate on the attack, fairly vanilla-driven mid-palate, with a lovely texture and a gentle nuance to its body; the wine finishes with normal length and no tannic edges. More nuanced substance than at times, but overall less expressive.

This first vintage by Caroline Artaud stands out for the extreme finesse of its tannins, which could be described as airy. On the palate, it is juicy and generous, supple and vibrant, with notes of black licorice and ripe blueberry. A mineral streak, an expression of its clay-limestone terroir, completes its personality.

94–96. Barrel Sample. Rich black fruits shine through this densely structured wine. Held in suspension, the tannins will develop beautifully over the years. With its acidity and firm core, the wine has great aging potential.