2023 Château Clerc Milon En Primeur
2023 Château Clerc Milon is offered for sale en primeur at £330 per six bottles.
Sitting in between the vineyards of Lafite and Mouton Rothschild, Clerc is a Fifth Growth Pauillac. We usually find a particular polish and finesse to the texture on the palate, pointing to its First Growth associations and we thought the 2023 was particularly appealing.
Pastourelle de Clerc-Milon, is an example of the increasing value offered by deuxièmes vins, with the pursuit of quality meaning many crus classés produce far fewer cases each year than they did twenty years ago; hence more fruit that would previously have made it into the grand vin now goes into the deuxième.
Bordeaux En Primeur, landing in spring 2026.
Limited availability. To order, e-mail us at sales@richardkihl.ltd.uk
Producer Profile
Château Clerc Milon, Cru Classé Pauillac
Château Clerc Milon is a Cinquièmes Cru Classé in Pauillac, named (like neighbour Duhart-Milon) after the village of Milon in Pauillac and its owner at the time of the 1855 Classification, Jean-Baptiste Clerc. The estate was purchased in 1970 by Baron Philippe de Rothschild and benefits from the winemaking expertise of the team at Mouton-Rothschild. Clerc Milon is usually a clear step up from sibling property d'Armaihac and seems to us to capture more of the nuances and complexity of the First Growth.
A new winery was built in 2011 (the estate does not possess a Château). The 41 hectares of vineyards are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (37%), Cabernet Franc (10%), Petit Verdot (2%) and Carmenere (1%). The average age of the vines is 53 years. Mostly planted before the development of clonal selection, the vines may lack the precise properties of more modern plantings, but they are rich in genetic material. The vine density ranges between 8,500 and 10,000 vines per hectare, very similar to Mouton.
| RED | 2023 | Château Clerc Milon | 75cl | £330 per case of 6 | Château Clerc Milon 2023 / / 75cl £330 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2023 Clerc Milon was picked from September 7 to 29 and is matured in 55% new oak. It has much more fruit concentration on the nose than the Pastorelle—quite precocious, with blackberry and cassis fruit. It's floral and more flamboyant than the d'Armailhac. The palate is very well balanced with a slightly creamy texture and a lovely mouthfeel. Its concentration is neatly counterbalanced by the acidity, and it feels very harmonious and long on the finish. Superb. If Mouton-Rothschild is beyond your budget—yes, I am familiar with that feeling—then this is where you should look. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Revealing aromas of red berries, cherries and blackcurrants mingled with hints of pencil shavings and new oak, the 2023 Clerc Milon is medium to full-bodied, deep and fleshy, with a layered core of fruit, sweet velvety tannins and a seamless, succulent profile. It's a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6.5% Cabernet Franc and the balance Carmenère and Petit Verdot. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"This has a great finish, with blackcurrant, chocolate, hazelnut and salt undertones that run the length of the wine. Full-bodied and dense, and then it lifts off at the end. Chalky undertone, coming from the limestone terroir here. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, 6.5% cabernet franc, 1.5% carmenere and 1% petit verdot. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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| RED | 2023 | Château Clerc Milon - Pastourelle de Clerc Milon | 75cl | £0 per case of 12 | Château Clerc Milon Pastourelle de Clerc Milon 2023 / / 75cl £0 per case of 12 |
IB | |||||
Tasting Notes"A salty undertone to the blackberry and terra-cotta character. Dark fruit. Medium to full body, layered tannins and an intense finish. Excellent density. Special this year. 63% merlot, 29% cabernet sauvignon, 5% cabernet franc, 2% carmenere and 1% petit verdot. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com |
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