Clerc Milon 2020 (1.5L)

95-96 JS / 93-95 JD / 94 DE / 92-94 WA / 91-93 VM / 17+ JR

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Château Clerc Milon joining Baron Philippe de Rothschild's family, the 2020 Château Clerc Milon bottle is decorated with a special label, bearing 50 stars arranged in a circular arc with a movement that seems to harmoniously follow that of its emblematic dancers. 

Château Clerc Milon, 1855 Classified Growth in Pauillac, was acquired by Baron Philippe de Rothschild in 1970. Its exceptional terroir is adjacent to two illustrious First Growths. Today, it is Baroness Philippine de Rothschild's children who carry on the tradition. The label shows an ornament which once belonged to Empress Catherine of Russia: two dancers made of gold and pearls, inspired by the Commedia dell'Arte.

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. - James Suckling

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. - Jeb Dunnuck

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. - Jane Anson, Decanter

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. - Lisa-Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

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. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

Dense and profound with layers of fruit and tannin. Subdued nose with a floral note. Tannins powdery but very finely layered. Exudes power but is harmonious at the same time. - Jancis Robinson