Clerc Milon - Pauillac 2016

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

97

byJane Ansonthe10/14/2022

Enticing inky depths to the colour, slate tannins that are fully in control, adding precision and power to the cassis fruits. As it opens, the austerity recedes and sweet blackberry and loganberry fruit appear, along with a seamless delivery of cocoa bean, sage, cedar, cigar box, eucalyptus leaf. Once again you are aware that it has retained the character of Clerc Milon's early days, coming friom the natural concentration of the soils, but everything has been magnified and heightened. A profound wine that shows the possibilities contained within this site. Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy technical director, 50% new oak.

Vinous

93

byNeal Martinthe8/13/2020

The 2016 Clerc-Milon has a crisp, graphite-infused bouquet of well-defined black fruit, hints of peony and iris petals showing underneath. The classic palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, well-judged acidity and just the right amount of austerity toward a finish that has a bitter edge. Excellent (and less "aloof" than I found 12 months earlier). Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.

Jancis Robinson

17

byJancis Robinsonthe2/5/2020

Yvesbeck.wine

96

byYves Beckthe3/20/2019

Rouge grenat profond aux bordures pourpres. Superbe bouquet qui brille par sa subtilité et sa complexité. Très belle symbiose entre des éléments du terroir (cèdre, graphite) et une multitude de fruits tels que mûres et cerises. Finalement, je relève également des notes épicées. Mise en bouche compacte, crémeuse. Au palais, le vin surprend par son ampleur. Il a du gras, de la puissance et, évidemment, de la finesse ! C'est bien là une très belle aptitude à contenir sa force, lorsqu'on la conjugue avec de la délicatesse. Les tannins sont soyeux, crémeux et doté d'un grain très fin. Ils ont la matière nécessaire pour rivaliser avec une vive structure qui elle confère de la race et tient le fruit, jusqu'en fin de bouche, de manière persistante. 2024-2051 96/100

Jeb DUNNUCK

95

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/1/2019

I was able to taste the 2016 Château Clerc Milon on multiple occasions and it was always brilliant, showing a deep ruby/purple color as well as sexy aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, new saddle leather, spicy oak, and graphite. Deep, powerful and beautifully concentrated, it’s a rock star of a Pauillac that’s going to keep for 30 years or more. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot and Carménère, all aged 16 months in 50% new French oak.

Wine Spectator

94

byJames Molesworththe2/5/2019

A fresh and stylish version, with chalky minerality running from start to finish. Succulent plum and cassis fruit flavors coil around this and absorbs this easily at first. Then pretty violet and lilac notes guild the finish, with the minerality taking a slightly firmer stand. Best from 2023 through 2035.   –JM

Jamessuckling.com

96

byJames Sucklingthe2/4/2019

Hot crushed stones and dark berries jump out of the glass. Full body, very dense fruit and powerful tannins, yet it remains agile and bright with beauty and energy. So muscular and toned. Truly outstanding Clerc for the future. Unwavering nature to this. Try after 2024.

Vinous

93

byNeal Martinthe1/24/2019

The 2016 Clerc-Milon has a tightly knit bouquet of blackberry, raspberry and light floral scents, very similar to its sibling, d’Armailhac. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannin. Initially it displays crisp acidity and feels quite fleshy, but it firms up and finishes persistent but linear and a little aloof. I personally find that appealing, and I suspect this Pauillac will blossom after several years in bottle.

Vinous

93

byAntonio Gallonithe1/21/2019

The 2016 Clerc Milon is striking. Here, the interplay of dense fruit and supporting structure make for a wonderfully complete and expressive wine. Dark blue stone fruit, licorice, lavender, spice and menthol are all beautifully delineated in the glass. The aromatic and structure of both Cabernets come through with notable energy and precision. The 2016 has enough density and pedigree to drink well for many years to come.

Wine Advocate

94

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe11/30/2018

The Cabernet Franc was fantastic this year, so it was all used in the grand vin. The final blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carménère. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Clerc Milon leaps from the glass with beautiful scents of chocolate-covered cherries, plum preserves and crushed blackcurrants with suggestions of lilacs, cardamom, underbrush and unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm frame of finely grained tannins and seamless freshness lifting the perfumed fruit to a nice long finish.

Decanter.com

96

byJane Ansonthe10/26/2018

WeinWisser

18

byTjark Witzgallthe5/22/2017

Tiefes Purpur mit satter Mitte und lila Rand. Cassisdrops in der offenen Nase, dahinter Himbeermark und Schattenmorellensaft. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur und engmaschigem Tanningerüst, dann packt er zu und powert sich immer länger – ein «PPP» (Pauillac-Power-Pack) mit sehr langem Finale und gewaltigem Potenzial.

Bettane & Desseauve

96

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/3/2017

Robe très dense, corps imposant, grande fraîcheur en retour de bouche, une réussite.

Wine Advocate

92-94

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2017

The 2016 Clerc Milon is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenere (the latter vinification intégrale, so that it includes 50% of the stems, and Philippe Dhalluin said he was pleased with the results). It has a very pure bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit, a touch of cedar and ash in the background. It takes time to really unfold in the glass. The palate is adorable: svelte tannin, beautifully pitched acidity, great depth with a silky smooth finish that just caresses the mouth. There is a little tightness here compared to the more expressive 2016 d'Armailhac, but I have no doubt that it will turn into a top-flight Clerc-Milon.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16,25

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/28/2017

Couleur sombre, intense, belle, pourpre. Nez intense, fin, fruité avec une touche de cassis. Jolie bouche allongée et suave avec du goût, du corps, du moelleux. Persistance légèrement austère, mais savoureuse. Assemblage : 56 % cabernet sauvignon, 29 % merlot, 13 % cabernet franc et 2 % petit verdot et carmenère. Degré d’alcool : 13,7° (moyenne plus), pH   : 3.58 (moyenne moins).

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

byJeff Levethe4/27/2017

With quite a dark ruby color, there is chocolate-covered black raspberry, plum, and cigar box with a floral nose. The palate has a richness that I’ve never seen here before. Concentrated, polished, silky, sweet and fresh, the wine is long with real depth of flavor, ending with a salty complexity in the finish. This is a new level of quality for Clerc Milon. Blending 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% old vine Carmenere , this wine reached 13.6% alcohol with a pH of 3.58. The harvest took place September 26 to October 15. 

Vinous

90-93

byAntonio Gallonithe4/26/2017

The 2016 Clerc Milon is dense, plush and undeniably appealing. Plump fruit and supple tannins add to the wine's considerable charm. Here, too, the texture is sweet, plush and quite generous. A burst of dark blue/purplish fruit, grilled herbs, menthol and licorice punctuates the vivid finish. Clerc Milon has been terrific on each of the three occasions I have tasted it so far.

Decanter.com

96

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2017

An estate that has been making great leaps forward over recent years, and once again we have a gorgeous Clerc on our hands. This is extremely succulent, with aromatic complexity and a freshness that just bursts out of the glass. Things start off closed for the first minute or so, then the juice comes rushing through. The mid-palate is smooth and polished but also bursting with energy. This is quite clearly one of their best ever wines, ripped through with sweet cherry and wild blackberry fruit, tightened up by slate and cedar. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenere (some of the oldest plantings of this grape in Bordeaux). Drinking Window 2027 - 2050

matthewjukes.com

17,5

byMatthew Jukesthe4/25/2017

(55 Cabernet Sauvignon, 29 Merlot, 13 Cabernet Franc, 2 Petit Verdot, 1 Carmenère) This is another superb Clerc Milon and it shows the continued renaissance of this eminent label. While retaining the characteristic vintage tenseness and longuer it also has a juicy core which is easy to identify and this will grow and grow over time, pushing the astringency aside. I think that this might be a wine which blossoms rather earlier than many and then, keeping its plump cassis fruit aloft, gain complexity as it softens and matures. 17.5+

Decanter.com

96

byJane Ansonthe4/24/2017

An estate that has been making great leaps forward over recent years, and once again we have a gorgeous Clerc on our hands. This is extremely succulent, with aromatic complexity and a freshness that just bursts out of the glass. Things start off closed for the first minute or so, then the juice comes rushing through. The mid-palate is smooth and polished but also bursting with energy. This is quite clearly one of their best ever wines, ripped through with sweet cherry and wild blackberry fruit, tightened up by slate and cedar. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenere (some of the oldest plantings of this grape in Bordeaux). Drinking Window 2027 - 2050

Jancis Robinson

17,5

byJancis Robinsonthe4/21/2017

Real aromatic lift. Calm, collected, lovely 'minerality'. Completely pure. Fully ripe but not a trace of sweetness. So cool! 17.5+

Wine Enthusiast

93-95

byRoger Vossthe4/19/2017

Barrel Sample. This wine has great richness, with dense tannins that beautifully meld with intense black fruits. It's concentrated, while at the same time it has a superb, velvety texture. This will be a great wine, ready after 12–15 years.

Wine Spectator

93-96

byJames Molesworththe4/10/2017

Very fresh in feel, with bright cassis and cherry fruit racing along an iron edge. Shows a good sleek feel through the finish and a light tug of earth at the very end. A vivacious and delicious wine in the making.—J.M.

Jamessuckling.com

94-95

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2017

Refined and ultra-fine with a linear and polished character. Full-bodied, yet tight and racy. A classy and sophisticated young wine.