Clerc Milon - Pauillac 2020

Vinous

92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2023

The label of the 2020 Clerc Milon contains a discrete celebration of its half-century ownership by Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The nose is quite strict at the moment, leaning more towards the red fruit side of the spectrum, touches of gravel and tobacco, gaining more black fruit as it opens in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy blackberry and bilberry fruit, gentle grip, maybe not quite as delineated as the 2020 d'Armailhac, yet with a subtle pencil lead note enhancing the finish. Very fine.

Wine Spectator

94 / 100

byJames Molesworththe11/30/2022

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.

TASTED

95 / 100

byAndreas Larssonthe7/6/2021

Floral, dark fruity, perfumed with violet, crème de cassis and a great purity. Dense but not opulent palate with bright freshness, exemplary tannin 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 ever tasted.

La Revue du Vin de France

94-96 / 100

the6/7/2021

Le cru livre une réussite majeure qui confirme sa montée en puissance et en définition depuis quelques millésimes. Le vin est plein, avec une bouche bien enrobée et un sentiment de fraîcheur mentholée en finale.

Le Figaro

93-95 / 100

the6/2/2021

Un nez voluptueux de baies sauvages, discret de prime abord, mais qui laisse présager une belle profondeur. En bouche, davantage de générosité, avec une première saillie très parfumée, suivie de cette profondeur tant attendue. On y retrouve une matière dense, où s'entremêlent fruits noirs, minéralité de graphite, et une longueur incroyable, ce qui augure d'un sérieux potentiel de garde.

Vinous

90-92 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Clerc Milon is soft, fruity and supple. Inky red fruit, plum, lavender, rose petal and spice all meld together in the glass. The 2020 is not terribly complex, but it is open-knit, radiant, and incredibly appealing, even in the early going. I suspect it will offer quite a bit of pleasure right out of the gate. The proportion of Merlot is a bit higher in this year's blend, which no doubt contributes to the wine's appeal. Tasted two times.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

The top wine 2020 Château Clerc Milon checks in as 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot and Carmenère, and it's another beauty, offering both richness and elegance. Ripe currants, cassis, damp earth, graphite, and crushed stone-like minerality define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a more focused, pure texture, plenty of expansive richness on the mid-palate, and ripe, building tannins. This beautifully layered, pure wine shows the style of the vintage nicely.

Vinous

91-93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Clerc Milon has a crisp, well-defined bouquet that you might suspect derives from a cooler growing season. Mainly black fruit here, along with cedar and light sea spray/estuarine scents, unfolding nicely in the glass but always keeping something back. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. An elegant rather than powerful Clerc Milon, with a slightly ferrous, well-structured but never grippy finish and a saline aftertaste. Give this 4–5 years in bottle. Classic Pauillac through and through.

Decanter.com

94 / 100

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

Powerful, a little austere with tight black fruits that will benefit from adding flesh over ageing, as the tannins are a little angular right now. The freshly crushed mint leaf finish is beautiful, and this is is ripped with powerful nuanced fruit, tobacco and earthy flavours, followed by waves of violet flowers. Good quality, not as exuberant as some years of Clerc Milon. First year of Caroline Artaud to oversee the entire vintage, as Jean-Philippe Danjoy has headed over to Mouton. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 50% new oak. There is also 0.6% of Carmanère in the blend.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

With a floral, spicy, tobacco leaf, currant and chocolate filled perfume, the wine is elegant, fresh, supple and silky. There is a beautiful sweetness to the currants, cherries and plums in the mouth. The sensation of the Merlot comes through the blend more than usual as you find a touch of dark chocolate gently coating your palate in the finish, adding length, texture and complexity. This is so good now. But it is going to be even better with 7-9 years of age. The wine blends 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 13.3% ABV. 94-96

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

The 2020 Clerc Milon - a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot with just a splash of Carmenere - has a deep garnet-purple color, opening with notes of tar, unsmoked cigars, bouquet garni and graphite, giving way to a core of ripe black and red currants, boysenberries and tree bark, plus a touch of black olives. The medium-bodied palate delivers fantastic tension and impressively ripe, fine-grained tannins to support the crunchy, energetic black fruit flavors, finishing with a lively herbal lift.

Anthocyanes

96-98 / 100

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Cassis, crème de mure, très violette, fruits noirs pour un bouquet frais et élégant. Bel éclat aromatique dans la gourmandise. Bouche charnue, très belle définition du grain de tanin, pour des tanins cristallins, de la pureté et une allonge remarquable. Une finale très calcaire dans sa définition et sa fraicheur. Aérien en diable. Très belle bouteille partie pour une longue garde. Superbe ! Un millésime qui fera date. Un must have.

Bernard Burtschy

94-95 / 100

byBernard Burtschythe5/10/2021

Falstaff

93-95 / 100

the5/10/2021

Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feines Bukett nach Cassis und Brombeeren, zart nach Orangenzesten, mineralischer Touch, noch etwas zurückhaltend. Saftig, gute Komplexität, reife Herzkirschen, fruchtige Süße, reife Tannine, Nougat im Abgang, gute Länge, ein stoffiger Speisen- begleiter mit gutem Reifepotenzial.

My Bettane + Desseauve

95-96 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021

Réussite exceptionnelle, même au sein de la réussite générale de l’appellation. Un peu plus de grands cabernets sauvignon que d’habitude et une qualité de boisé vraiment rare. Grand rapport qualité prix à prévoir.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe5/4/2021

Very pure character to this wine with crushed fruit and round tannins. It’s really transparent and delicate, yet bold at the same time. Super tannins. Vivid. Very primary and berry-like. May well turn out to be even better than this in bottle.