The Best of Bordeaux 2022: Clerc Milon, Duhart Milon and Rauzan Segla

Clerc and Duhart Milon have built up glowing reputations over the past few years. Benefitting from the technical nous and financial clout of Mouton Rothschild and Lafite Rothschild, they are now producing some of the best wines in Pauillac, at relatively keen prices, given their illustrious lineage. Likewise, Rauzan Segla has been on a meteoric rise, first under the watchful eye of John Kolasa and more recently the superstar duo of Nicolas Audebert and Thomas Duclos. Along with neighbours, Brane Cantenac, Rauzan Segla is producing the best wines in Margaux, with the exception of the appellations’ namesake. These wines showcase the best of what Bordeaux can do, delivering power, concentration, finesse, aging potential and pure drinkability. A triumvirate that proves you can have your cake, and eat it.

Clerc Milon 2022 There is a glorious purity and precision to the fruit here, the Clerc Milon 2022 has a polish and vibrancy that contrasts with some of the more muscular Pauillacs nearby. This is the second vintage made in the new winery which boasts twice the number of vats, a resource that enabled the team to work on a more parcellaire basis and comes across in the flowing generosity of the core. There are multiple layers here, of bright bilberry and cassis overlying a taut structure of fine tannins and graphite.

Duhart Milon 2022 From an En Primeur showing with bags of opulent fruit and an exuberant, expressive feel, Duhart in bottle has settled into a far more serious, structured, and multi-layered beast, in many ways more impressive and imposing than was originally apparent. There is the hallmark Pauillac calling card of pencil lead and earthy tannins, enveloped by a deep, unctuous dark fruit. As Neal Martin commented, ‘a Pauillac in a pin-striped suit’. This will be a wine to be patient with but will blossom with time into a truly compelling wine.

Rauzan Selga 2022 One of the stars of the tasting, Rauzan Segla 2022 has put on weight in barrel since the En Primeur tastings, but the incredible detail and purity of fruit remains very much in evidence, as does the joyful bright finish that the finest 2022s boasted. This has so much class, persistence, and energy, with dark cherry and chocolate giving way to a long mineral finish. The tannins are extremely fine and polished, this is another lustrous performance from a Chateau with a recent string of hits.

Most of these wines are still EP, lying in Bordeaux, but some are available immediately. Prices listed below are IB so do not include duty and VAT. Our current minimum order for free delivery is £200. To order click on the link below or contact your account manager.