Château Clerc Milon Rothschild, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2016
Clerc Milon is a big step up in quality from the pretty d'Armailhac. There is much more composure and class here. The bouquet is an intoxicating array of gorgeous, perfumed hedgerow fruit, minerals, spice, wild flowers, eucalyptus, liqueur chocolates and cool cassis. This is instantly engaging and provocative. On the palate there is a mass of suave concentrated dark fruit infused with minerals and gravel. We were impressed by the density and refinement and the brooding tannic structure. A classy Clerc. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenère.
critic reviews
This has taken its time to come around, as it is a muscular wine with powerful and sculpted tannic grip, but at approaching nine years old you are beginning to really appreciate the brilliance on display. Expect raspberry, cranberry, olive paste, sage, grilled rosemary and cracked pepper, with sweeter toasted caramel notes. Great stuff, director Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy, 50% new oak.
The 2016 Clerc-Milon has a crisp, graphite-infused bouquet of well-defined black fruit, hints of peony and iris petals showing underneath. The classic palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, well-judged acidity and just the right amount of austerity toward a finish that has a bitter edge. Excellent (and less "aloof" than I found 12 months earlier). Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.
The Cabernet Franc was fantastic this year, so it was all used in the grand vin. The final blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenere. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Clerc Milon leaps from the glass with beautiful scents of chocolate-covered cherries, plum preserves and crushed blackcurrants with suggestions of lilacs, cardamom, underbrush and unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm frame of finely grained tannins and seamless freshness lifting the perfumed fruit to a nice long finish.