Chateau Clerc Milon 2018
Full-bodied red wine · Chateau Clerc Milon
Vintage: 2018
Type
Full-bodied red wine
Producer
Chateau Clerc Milon
Country
France
Vintage
2018
Region & Appellation
Bordeaux, Pauillac
Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carmenere
Color & Appearance
Deep ruby red with a dark purple core and youthful purple rim. Clear and brilliant with moderate-to-high viscosity, displaying slow-moving, staining legs.
Aroma Profile
Intense and complex nose featuring aromas of ripe blackcurrant, blackberry, and dark cherry, underpinned by secondary notes of cedar, graphite, vanilla, and subtle toast from oak aging, alongside tertiary nuances of tobacco leaf and forest floor.
Tasting Notes
A powerful and structured initial palate impression that opens into a lush, layered mid-palate of concentrated dark fruits and savory spices. The finish is remarkably long, clean, and harmonious, leaving lingering impressions of cassis, cocoa, and fine-grained mineral grip.
Flavor Profile
Dominated by concentrated cassis, black cherry, and plum, complemented by savory non-fruit flavors of graphite, pencil shavings, cedarwood, subtle sweet tobacco, and fine French oak spices that evolve gracefully from the attack through the long finish.
Body & Texture
Full-bodied with a rich, velvety mouthfeel and substantial extract level. The texture is opulent yet refined, featuring dense, polished tannins that provide a luxurious and cohesive tactile impression.
Acidity & Tannins
High structure featuring a vibrant, refreshing level of acidity that cuts through the rich fruit and dense body. The tannins are firm yet exceptionally fine-grained, smooth, and well-integrated, promising excellent longevity.
Sweetness Level
Bone dry with zero residual sugar, balanced harmoniously by rich fruit extract and ripe alcohol.
Alcohol Content
14.5% ABV, typical for a warm-climate Left Bank Bordeaux vintage, offering a warm and generous mouthfeel without feeling overly hot.
Aging & Oak
Aged for approximately 16 to 18 months in French oak barrels, with a significant proportion of new oak, which imparts elegant notes of vanilla, toast, and subtle smoke while softening the wine's robust structural tannins.
Food Pairings
Ideal for pairing with rich autumn and winter proteins such as roasted rack of lamb, prime ribeye steak, or braised venison. In Taiwan, it pairs wonderfully with rich local beef dishes or braised duck breast, complemented by mushrooms and earthy truffle notes.
Serving Suggestions
Serve at 16-18°C in a large Bordeaux glass. Decant for at least 1 to 2 hours prior to serving to allow the complex aromas and dense tannins to fully open up. Best enjoyed in its youth with decanting or cellared for peak maturity.
Price Range
Estimated retail price between $90 and $130 USD per bottle, representing very strong value among classified growths in Pauillac.
Quality Assessment
Scored consistently around 94-96 points by major critics, positioning this as a super-premium, top-tier Fifth Growth Bordeaux that often rivals higher-classified estates in quality.
Production Methods
Hand-harvested with rigorous sorting in both vineyard and cellar. Fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel and wooden vats with traditional maceration, followed by malolactic fermentation and barrel aging.
Terroir
Situated on well-drained gravelly-clay soils over a subsoil of iron pan in the Pauillac appellation, benefiting from a moderate maritime climate moderated by the Gironde estuary.
History & Heritage
Acquired by Baron Philippe de Rothschild in 1970, the estate has undergone extensive modernization and vineyard replanting, transforming into one of the most reliable and celebrated Fifth Growths in the Médoc.
Interesting Facts
The label features a pair of 17th-century miniature dancers carved from ivory, which are part of the collection at the Museum of Wine in Art at Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
Cellaring Potential
Excellent cellaring potential. Ready to begin drinking with proper decanting, but will continue to evolve and peak over the next 15 to 25 years.
Similar Wines
Chateau d'Armailhac, Chateau Pontet-Canet, Chateau Batailley, and Chateau Lynch-Bages.