Château Clerc Milon 2018
Full-bodied red wine · Château Clerc Milon, owned by Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A., is classified as a Cinquième Cru (Fifth Growth) in the historic 1855 Bordeaux Official Classification. Located in the prestigious Pauillac appellation, the estate has experienced a dramatic renaissance since its acquisition by the Rothschild family in 1970, with meticulous vineyard management and state-of-the-art winemaking facilities elevating its reputation to rival many higher-growth estates.
Vintage: 2018
Type
Full-bodied red wine
Producer
Château Clerc Milon, owned by Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A., is classified as a Cinquième Cru (Fifth Growth) in the historic 1855 Bordeaux Official Classification. Located in the prestigious Pauillac appellation, the estate has experienced a dramatic renaissance since its acquisition by the Rothschild family in 1970, with meticulous vineyard management and state-of-the-art winemaking facilities elevating its reputation to rival many higher-growth estates.
Country
France
Vintage
2018
Region & Appellation
Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac AOC
Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Carmenère
Color & Appearance
Deep, impenetrable ruby-purple core with a vibrant, youthful garnet rim, showing high viscosity and slow-moving, stained legs.
Aroma Profile
Intense and complex nose featuring ripe blackcurrants, black cherries, and plums, complemented by sophisticated secondary notes of cedarwood, graphite, vanilla, and subtle hints of exotic spices and violet florals.
Tasting Notes
A powerful and harmonious palate entry that unfolds with layers of rich black fruit, cassis, and tobacco. The mid-palate exhibits impressive depth and concentration, framed by structured yet velvety tannins and vibrant acidity that lead into an exceptionally long, polished, and mineral-driven finish.
Flavor Profile
Flavors of luscious blackberry, dark plum, and cassis are layered with savory elements of cigar box, lead pencil shavings, freshly roasted coffee beans, and well-integrated French oak spice.
Body & Texture
Full-bodied with a dense, muscular structure wrapped in a luxurious, velvety texture and remarkable concentration of extract.
Acidity & Tannins
Medium-plus acidity provides refreshing structural lift and balance to the rich fruit profile, supported by abundant, fine-grained, and perfectly ripe tannins that coat the palate.
Sweetness Level
Bone dry
Alcohol Content
14.5% ABV
Aging & Oak
Aged for approximately 16 to 18 months in French oak barrels, with a significant proportion of new oak, imparting notes of vanilla, toast, and refined spice while allowing the terroir and fruit to shine.
Food Pairings
Ideal with classic autumn dishes such as roasted rack of lamb with herbs, prime ribeye steak with a red wine reduction, or braised venison, paired alongside root vegetables and aged hard cheeses like Comté or Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Serving Suggestions
Serve at 16-18°C in a large Bordeaux glass. Decant for 2 to 3 hours prior to serving to allow the wine to fully open up. Best enjoyed from 2026 through 2045.
Price Range
$90 to $130 USD
Quality Assessment
Rated around 94-96 points by major wine critics, this is a super-premium, exceptional Fifth Growth Bordeaux that frequently punches above its official classification weight.
Production Methods
Hand-harvested into small crates, rigorously sorted via optical and manual sorting tables, fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats with gentle pump-overs and delestage, followed by traditional barrel aging and light fining before bottling.
Terroir
The vineyards are situated on gentle gravelly-clay slopes overlooking the Gironde estuary, featuring deep gravel soils over a subsoil of clay and limestone, benefiting from a temperate maritime climate and excellent natural drainage.
History & Heritage
Originally formed from parcels acquired in the 19th century by Jean-Baptiste Clerc, the estate was purchased by Baron Philippe de Rothschild in 1970 when it was severely neglected. The family undertook a massive replanting and modernization program, famously adopting a label featuring a pair of 17th-century jewel-encrusted gold dancers from the Museum of Mouton Rothschild.
Interesting Facts
The distinctive label depicts a pair of small, precious figures of dancers in gold, enamel, and pearls from the 17th century, which are part of the remarkable art collection housed at Château Mouton Rothschild.
Cellaring Potential
Excellent cellaring potential. While approachable with decanting in its youth, it will reach its peak maturity between 2030 and 2045, holding well beyond for decades under proper storage conditions.
Similar Wines
Château d'Armailhac, Château Pontet-Canet, Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, and Château Batailley