Château Clerc Milon 2021

Fruit-driven, expressive, cassis, blackberries, stony notes. On the palate, concentrated and structured, crisp, precise, showing plenty of elegance and a racy, red-fruited finish.

The 2021 Clerc Milon has turned out very well indeed, offering up aromas of dark berries and minty cassis mingled with hints of violets and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and concentrated, it's impressively deep and layered, with an ample core of fruit, lively acids and sweet, chalky tannins.

Ripe, dark and fragrant fruit on the nose - dark plums, cherries, damsons and blackberries with a dusting of dark chocolate - coolness but also touches of floral sweetness. Smells softly floral and softly herbal with the fruit at the fore. Smooth and round, nice fullness to the texture - very slightly chewy and plush tannins, this has a bit of flesh to it which I like - textured and filling in the mouth. Ripe strawberries, chewy blackcurrants, it’s cool but textured, grippy, salty and stony. Really a great expression with nuance and layers of different elements. Holds the interest. A touch narrow and still a bit bitter on the finish, though excellent high acidity gives life and vibrancy and nicely counters the plush fruit. Quite a complete wine, not with sunny exuberance but finessed and still flavourful.

This wine has notes of redcurrants as well as lead pencil, stone and salt. Medium-bodied, with white flowers, racy and firm tannins and balanced acidity. Linear and vivid. A blend of 59% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, 10% cabernet franc, 1.5% petit verdot and 1.5% carmenere. Better in two to four years. Drink after 2027.

The 2021 Clerc Milon was bottled in mid-June. As reported from barrel, there is a slightly savory note on the nose, with hints of brown spices nicely infusing the black fruit. There is a touch more “airiness” compared directly with the d'Armailhac. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, a little fresher and more tensile than its aforementioned stablemate, with ample depth and a peppery finish. This has kicked on in barrel and has its nose out in front.

Wet earth, cigar box, flowers, spice, espresso, and red with black currants define the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is refined, elegant, fresh, and energetic, with a soft-textured finish that blends its red fruits, minty freshness, and olive characteristics. The blend is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Petit Verdot, and 1.5% Carmenere. Drink from 2026–2045.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, subtle floral nuances, hints of hibiscus, raspberry and orange zest, underlaid with notes of cassis and tobacco. Juicy and elegant with notes of ripe cherry, a hint of plum, pleasant fruit expression and a lingering, mineral-salty finish. A delicate food wine displaying good length, and good development for one year. (8/1/2024, drink, store + 20)

I loved the 2021 Château Clerc Milon, a gem of a 2021 that brings impressive richness and depth. Black cherries, graphite, smoked herbs, and lead pencil notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a layered mouthfeel and beautiful tannins. It shows the fresher style of the vintage yet nevertheless brings impressive levels of concentration and depth. Give it a few years and enjoy over the following 15+. The blend is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot and Carmenère.

On the nose, it shows an assertive, dark fruit component, ripe and generous, with cherry juice and a hint of cherry liqueur in the top notes. Full and silky on the palate, its creamy texture gives it clearly more volume than d‘Armailhac. Very concentrated, with fine, spicy tannins and plenty of juiciness at the core. Full-bodied and fleshy, it displays great energy, excellent richness, and length. 13.0% ABV.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Carmenère, 1.5% Petit Verdot, 13% alc. by vol.). Deep, dense, dark, velvety, complex bouquet: black cassis, plum, fine woods, mint, truffle, licorice. Tightly woven, powerful, aromatic palate with a finely concentrated structure, diverse dark aromatics, plenty of fine tannins, dense dark fruit, and a very long, dense, creamy finish with many lingering flavors.

(59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Carmenère, 1.5% Petit Verdot, 13% vol. alcohol) Deep, dense, dark, velvety, complex bouquet: black cassis, plums, fine woods, mint, truffle, licorice. Tightly woven, powerful, aromatic palate with a finely concentrated structure, varied dark aromatics, plenty of fine tannins, dense dark fruit, a very long, dense, creamy finish with many lingering flavors. 19/20 2030 - 2060

This is one of the few that has really grown into itself in bottle, taking the next step that not many achieve with ageing. Bitter chocolate, cocoa bean, liquorice, pencil lead, crayon, then a whisper of cassis and violet: this channels a very strong Pauillac character, leaning into the appellation—definitely one to look out for. Maybe wait 5 years to drink this instead of the usual 10, but it has a good 15 to 20 years ahead, with tons of potential. An upscore. Caroline Artaud technical director as of this vintage. 55% new oak for ageing.

A blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Petit Verdot, and 1.5% Carmenere, the 2021 Clerc Milon is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a swirl or two to release notes of black plums, blackberries, and charcoal, plus hints of wild thyme, aniseed, and tree bark. The light to medium-bodied palate has loads of minerally sparks complementing the fresh black berry flavors, framed by refreshing acidity and grainy tannins, and finishing earthy.

The grand vin 2021 is a success, with a very elegant, refined profile. The palate is precise and chiselled, with beautiful flavor intensity and a rounded, suave finish. It is noted that over the past few vintages, the style of the wines has become more polished and gained in definition.

A chocolaty, rich, inviting nose that enchants with the sappy intensity of its fruit and the immense depth of its aromas. On the palate, ripe black fruits take the lead, with a few spicy notes of licorice and anise. Extremely silky tannins caress the palate, as if you were nestled in silk sheets, bringing a comforting sensation. The silk turns to velvet on the finish, offering length and a touch more grip for a soft, sumptuous whole.

2021 is constantly under pressure, perhaps with reason, but with very little hindsight, in fact. Take the bouquet, for example, which shines with red fruit, freshness, and elegance. It can only herald a thirst-quenching, easily digestible wine. This is confirmed on the palate, which shows freshness as well as texture and temperament. Everything is coherent in this wine, which may not have the depth we associate with it, but the soul is there, and that is ultimately what matters. A Clerc Milon true to itself, shining with its freshness and unsuspected vigor.

The nose is elegant, precise, and offers a touch of concentration, fine power, and depth. It reveals notes of vibrant blackcurrant, morello cherry, and, more subtly, violet, combined with hints of crushed blackberry as well as touches of vanilla, fine nuances of star anise, and caramelization. The palate is fruity, fresh, and elegant, offering lovely flesh, a rounded feel, juicy fruit, well-judged ripeness, indulgence, and a discreet floral side. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of lily, pulpy blackberry, pulpy blue fruits, and, more subtly, fleshy strawberry, combined with touches of lily and lilac, as well as hints of pulpy/crushed small fruits, blackcurrant, chocolate, vanilla, a subtle hint of black tea, and almond. A touch of tonka bean on the finish. The tannins are fine, supple, and offer a certain softness.

Dark, deep, purple colour. Intense, delicate nose with pure fruit, becoming subtle and floral when the glass is swirled. This floral character dominates the tasting. The wine stretches across the palate and rises from mid-palate to the finish, showing, as is often the case at this age, a touch of austerity on the lingering finish (limestone soil). It’s very good. Blend: 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Carmenère, 1.5% Petit Verdot. Alcohol: 13% – pH: 3.73 – IPT: 57.