2020 Chateau Clerc-Milon Pauillac France

Situated in the prestigious Pauillac appellation, this estate has seen centuries of change, but under the guidance of the Rothschild family, it has blossomed into one of the most intriguing wines from Bordeaux. 

It all began in the 1800s, when the vineyard was part of a larger estate owned by Jean-Baptiste Clerc. Over the years, the property was divided, sold, and nearly forgotten. By the time the Rothschild family purchased the estate in 1970, it had dwindled to just a few hectares of vines in desperate need of attention. But Baron Philippe de Rothschild had an eye for potential and quickly set about restoring Clerc Milon to its former glory.

Caroline Artaud leads Château Clerc Milon, supported by vineyard manager Richard Martin and cellar master Frédéric Faure. Together, they craft distinctive wines while embracing innovation and sustainability. Managed by Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, alongside Château Mouton Rothschild and Château d’Armailhac, the estates benefit from the expertise of Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, Ariane Khaida, and Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy. Clerc Milon focuses on reducing treatments and promoting biodiversity to enhance the vineyard and protect the environment.

Today, Clerc Milon is a beautiful fusion of tradition and modern winemaking. The Rothschilds poured their energy into rebuilding the estate, from replanting vines to creating a gravity-fed vat house. They’ve even embraced cutting-edge technology, using vineyard robots to help tend the grapes with precision and care.

One thing that makes Clerc Milon truly stand out is its playful yet elegant character. The label, featuring a pair of dancing clowns crafted from precious stones, hints at the wine’s lively spirit. This whimsical design, created by a 16th-century German goldsmith, perfectly complements the vibrant flavours within the bottle.

As for the wine itself, the 2020 vintage is a classic Pauillac – bold, structured, and packed with layers of dark fruit, cassis, and a touch of earthy tobacco. It’s a wine that can age beautifully, but it’s also incredibly tempting to open now and enjoy its youthful vibrancy.

What’s remarkable about Clerc Milon is its commitment to sustainability. The estate is powered by solar energy, and the new winemaking facilities have been designed with the environment in mind, ensuring that the wine is as sustainable as it is delicious.

In a region known for its big names, Château Clerc Milon offers something a little different – a wine that tells a story of revival, passion, and innovation. It’s a perfect choice for anyone who loves Bordeaux but craves something with a unique twist.

2020 was a great year for Bordeaux. Vinous Media blessed this year with a 97-point review and said, "Two thousand-twenty is an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux, certainly the best in the 2018-2020 trilogy. Quality is very, very high."

Aging: in French oak barrels

53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36.5% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdort, 0.5% Carmenere. The wine is a deep cherry red with garnet highlights. The nose reveals an intense and complex array of aromas on which macerated black fruit mingles with liquorice and cedarwood. On the attack, the creamy, silky mouthfeel combines depth, density and supreme elegance, leading into a rich and smooth mid-palate on blackcurrant and bilberry flavours illuminated by attractive freshness over a rounded, refined tannic structure

Blackcurrants, black licorice, violets and lavender. Aromatic and perfumed. Full- to medium-bodied with tension and focus, and very fine, linear tannins that run the length of the wine. Starting to close now. Serious Clerc. Better after 2029. ~97 James Suckling

Rich and smoky, this wine has great presence. Tannins are almost sweet with their roundness, the wine enveloping the structure with the jammy black fruits. The wine will age well. Drink from 2027. ~95 Wine Enthusiast

Subtle, delicate, not shouting but delivering a really nuanced glass of wine with lots of fresh acidity and soft sweetness but also a herbal element giving spiced red fruits in the glass. Feels less serious than d'Armailhac, more upfront and open, but lovely detail too. Soft, such high acidity, really so lifted in the glass, a lovely purity, clean and clear. I love the grippy tannins that almost clean the palate leaving a crushed velvet texture on the tongue with lots of generosity. Super appealing and already very pleasant and pleasing to drink. ~95 Decanter

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, opaque core, delicate rim brightening. Nuances of cassis and fresh cherries, orange zest, a touch of precious wood and nougat, multi-faceted bouquet. Complex, taut, fresh dark berry fruit, cherries, delicate fruit sweetness, ripe, supporting tannins, shows length and certain ageing potential, secure future, a versatile food companion.~95 Falstaff

Floral, dark fruity, perfumed with violet, crème de cassis and a great purity. Dense but not opulent palate with bright freshness, exemplary tannin with some graphite and coffee bean notes leading to a very long finish. A classically structured and pure Pauillac with excellent polish. The best young Clerc-Milon I ever tasted. ~95 Andreas Larsson Sommelier

Aromas of dark berries, cigar wrapper, exotic spices and burning embers introduce the 2020 Clerc Milon, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered wine that's seamless, concentrated and refined, with lively acids and a long, saline, violet-inflected finish. A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot, it's a terrific effort from this clay-limestone terroir that has benefited from so much investment in recent years. ~94+ Wine Advocate

The 2020 Château Clerc Milon brings another level of finesse and is a big step up over the Pastourelle. Kirsch, blackberries, graphite, lead pencil shavings, and a crushed stone-like sense of minerality give way to a full-bodied, nicely concentrated, tannic 2020 that's balanced and has terrific purity, followed by a great finish. A serious Pauillac, it warrants 7-8 years of bottle age and will have 20-25+ years of overall prime drinking. ~94 Jeb Dunnuck

Sleek and refined, with a very fine-grained structure supporting a core of black currant and black cherry reduction notes along with hints of chalky minerality and sweet tobacco. The long finish has cut and energy, thanks to savory nuance. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenère. Best from 2026 through 2038. ~94 Wine Spectator

~94 Tim Atkin, Master of Wine

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