Clerc Milon 2020 (750ML)

95-96 JS / 95 JA / 93-95 JD / 93 DE / 92 WI / 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

Opulent damson and spiced chocolate, graphite, fresh acidities, crushed mint leaf and eucalputus, restrained but vibrant precision. This is well structured, extends outwards and upwards, showing chewy tannins with grip. Harvest September 9 to 29. New director Caroline Artaud arrived for the harvest in this year, and has overseen a hugely successful wine, 60% new oak. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

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

Perfumed, raspberry and strawberry fruit, red and floral, pretty on the nose, roses and sweet strawberries. Lithe and supple, this has a nice bounce to it, plump, super-juicy and fun, gorgeous sweetness and plushness to it, round and friendly. Lovely push of red fruits with a hint of herbal medicinal edges at the back and some very soft spicing. You can't help but smile when you drink this. Approachable, very complete and full. A great glass of wine here. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter

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. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent 

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