Château Clerc Milon 2020

A rich and elegant 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 wine

The 2020 vintage marks the 50th anniversary since Château Clerc Milon came into the fold of the Baron Philippe de Rothschild family. To celebrate this special occasion, each bottle is adorned with a unique label. Portraying a circular arc composed of 50 stars, the design surrounds two dancers that are clad in gold and pearls. Inspired by the Commedia dell'Arte, these characters are a reproduction of a piece of silverware that belonged to Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia.

The vintage

A very mild winter and early spring favoured an early budding of the vines. The snowfall at the end of March did not impact the vineyards. Marked by temperatures above seasonal norms, the spring was also punctuated by abundant precipitation, especially at the beginning of May. From mid-May, hot and dry conditions significantly accelerated the vegetative cycle, with flowering taking place 12 days ahead of its usual date. While the month of June was characterised by great weather contrasts, the month of July was marked by heat waves and severe drought. The few rainy days in August activated veraison and resulted in a uniform development of the berries. Historically early, the 2020 harvest yielded fully ripe grapes in perfect sanitary condition. Despite lower yields than in recent vintages, the quality was exceptional, producing fresh, balanced and dense wines with powerful tannins and a beautiful finesse.

The blend

The Château Clerc Milon 2020 was made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (53%), Merlot (37%), Cabernet Franc (8%), Petit Verdot (2%).

The tasting

Colour

The wine displays a deep cherry-red colour with subtle garnet reflections.

Nose

Intense and complex, the nose reveals a rich aromatic palette, combining fragrances of macerated black fruits, liquorice and cedar.

Palate

Silky and very elegant, the attack seduces with its velvety feel, depth and density. The rich mid-palate exudes aromas of blackcurrant and blueberr, mixed with a beautiful freshness and refined tannins. Persistent and mineral, the finish is marked by beautiful fruity notes.