Château Clerc Milon 2019

The richness and density of a fine red wine from Pauillac

The estate
With origins dating back to the 18th century, this property was once part of the Seigneurie de Lafite estates. It takes its name from the Clerc family, who owned the Milon hamlet of Pauillac, where the château was located. In 1855, the property earned the title of Classified Fifth Growth and it is today considered one of the greatest crus of the Médoc. In 1970, Baron Philippe de Rothschild decided to purchase the property in order to express the full potential of its great terroir. In 2007, Château Clerc Milon acquired a new fully gravity-fed vat, and in 2011, a semi-underground barrel room, a reception area and a tasting room.

The vineyard
Located in the north-eastern part of the Pauillac appellation, the Château Clerc Milon vineyard covers 41 hectares of vines, a large part of which is planted on the Mousset hill, overlooking the Gironde. The terroir of Château Clerc Milon is made up of gravelly sandy soils upon a clay-limestone base in the eastern part of the estate.

The vintage
After a mild winter and cool spring, followed by heavy rainfall in June, the summer brought very high temperatures. Some precipitation prevented water stress on the vines. The harvest was very generous, both in terms of quantity and quality. The fruit displayed intense colour, high degrees of alcohol and very beautiful tannins.

The blend
Cabernet sauvignon (72%), merlot (22%), cabernet franc (4%), petit verdot (2%).

The tasting
Tasted en primeur, the Château Clerc Milon 2019 displays a garnet red colour, with shimmering purple reflections. The very refined aromatic bouquet opens with floral notes, revealing at first notes of black fruit and liquorice. On the palate, the wine opens with a smooth and generous texture. Notes of ripe fruit blend harmoniously with flavours of toasted cereals and floral touches of violet. The velvety and delicate tannic structure comes through on the mid-palate and lingers on a very long finish, which also reveals saline nuances, fresh menthol notes and delicious chocolate flavours.