Clerc Milon - Pauillac 2017

Wine Advocate

94

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/17/2020

The 2017 Clerc Milon is medium to deep garnet-purple colored and offers up a gorgeous nose of potpourri, cinnamon stick, candied violets and kirsch over a core of warm cassis, plum preserves and boysenberries with a waft of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers loads of muscular fruit with a firm, fine-grained texture and tons of freshness, finishing long and perfumed. Drinking Window : 2022 - 2045. 94+

Vinous

92

byAntonio Gallonithe3/11/2020

A real sleeper in this vintage, the 2017 Clerc Milon packs a serious punch. Inky dark fruit, new leather, mint and lavender infuse the 2017 with striking layers of dimension. In 2017, Clerc Milon is shockingly intense, the result of a year with quite a bid of dehydration on the vine. There is no shortage of depth or structure, at least in the early going. I can't wait to see how the 2017 ages.

Wine Spectator

94

byJames Molesworththe2/7/2020

This starts with a kick of violet before a well-built beam of black currant, fig and plum paste flavors enters authoritatively. Very solid through the finish, with chestnut, alder and graphite notes adding a defined bass line. Fresh acidity is well-embedded throughout, keeping all the elements in line. A strong showing. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenère. Best from 2022 through 2038. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020

This is a rich and profound red with blackberries, blackcurrants, pine needles and graphite. Black licorice, too. Full-bodied, crisp and creamy with fantastic tannin backbone and length. Deep. A blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 23% merlot, 14% cabernet franc, 2% petit verdot and 1% carmenere. Try after 2022.

Le Point

16,5-17

byJacques Dupontthe6/20/2018

Expressif, fruits noirs, cerise, note florale, juteux, tanins savoureux, très bons, gras, très ciselés, milieu de bouche dense, finale fraîche, note de réglisse.

Jeb DUNNUCK

91-93

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

The 2017 Clerc Milon checks in as a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot (the estate has Merlot planted on clay soils), 14% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot and Carmenère. It offers a beautiful yet tight, promising style as well as classic cassis and black cherry fruits, plenty of graphite and lead pencil, a solid, rich mid-palate, and ripe, present tannin. It should be accessible in its youth, yet better with short-term cellaring.

Vinifera

93

byJacques Perrinthe5/28/2018

Fruits noirs en avant, réglisse et zan. Bouche fraîche, sapide, longue avec de la suite et de l’allonge, très bon.

Vinous

88-91

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 Clerc Milon is painfully backward and austere. In a vintage in which so many wines are forward and fruity, Clerc Milon is the exact opposite. There is not much pleasure or immediacy here, that much is evident. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, leather and licorice add to the wine's dark personality. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenère, aged in 50% new oak. After the frost, which did not really affect us, the major challenge in 2017 was heat stress," Mouton Technical Director Philippe Dhalluin told me. "We had no rain until the end of June. Then, in September, when we needed a bit of rain again, we got more than double what would have been optimal. The September rain affected the Merlot and Cabernet Franc, while the Cabernet Sauvignon was able to take advantage of the last 15 days of the growing season, which were much more favorable. In the cellar, we opted for longer macerations at lower temperatures, as we wanted to avoid extracting the type of hard tannins that mark other vintages with very dry summers, such as 2011.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

Minerality and salty tannins heighten the natural sweetness of the deep, red fruits. The wine has vitality, gentleness and the structure to age. The finish delivers ripe cassis, blackberry, licorice and even more rock and stone. Certainly this is one of the best vintages for Clerc Milon. An arrangement of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% old vine Carmenere, the wine reached 13.2% alcohol with a pH of 3.64. The harvest took place September 13 to September 29.

Vinous

89-91

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 Clerc Milon was picked from 13 to 29 September and matured in 50% new oak (which was represented in the blend tasted.) It has a more closed, backward bouquet compared to the sample of d’Armailhac. It actually reminds me of that other “Milon”, Duhart-Milon in style. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, a fine bead of acidity, quite austere and conservative with a precise, pencil-lead, Valrhona chocolate and smoke infused finish that just pulls up a little short at the moment. Tasted three times with consistent notes.

Wine Advocate

93-95

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carménère, the 2017 Clerc Milon is deep garnet-purple in color and scented of crushed red and black currants, wild blueberries and black pepper with touches of cigar box, violets, underbrush and menthol. Medium-bodied and with a very firm structure of wonderfully ripe, pixelated tannins and exhilarating freshness, it finishes long with notes of pebbles and floral perfume.

Decanter.com

94

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2018

It's immediately obvious from both colour and first nose that this has a wonderful richness to it, offering powerful cherry pit, graphite and dark chocolate notes but without being overly sweet. A serious wine that is delivering on its potential, vintage after vintage. The Cab Franc vines are on limestone and clay here, and reached perfect ripeness. Overall there is a higher percentage of both Cabernets than usual in the blend. 9% press wine. 50% new oak.

Drinking Window 2025 - 2038

WeinWisser

17

byRené Gabrielthe4/25/2018

Dichtes Granat mit aufhellendem Rand. Intensives Waldbeer-bouquet' mit Rosenholz und hellem Tabak. Am festen Gaumen mit straffem, sehnigem Kdrper. lm gebündelten Finale reife Preisel-beeren, frisches Kakaopulver und zarte Ad-stringenz. Kommt [eider nicht an das Vor-jahr heran.             

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16,25

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/17/2018

Wine Enthusiast

93-95

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2018

Finely structured, there is an excellent balance between fruit and tannins on this ripe and juicy wine. It is elegant, harmonious and poised. It will develop easily and over time will be an impressive wine.

Jamessuckling.com

92-93

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

Tight and compacted with chewy tannins and showing hot-stone, blackberry and blueberry character. Full body and a driven finish.

Wine Spectator

90-93

byJames Molesworththe4/4/2018

Crunchy plum and black currant notes are fresh and focused, while chalk, iron and savory details line the finish. Shows nice purity and minerally drive.—J.M.