Wine Advisor
Clerc Milon 1996
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Description
A wine with considerable ageing potential made in the traditional Médoc way, Château Clerc Milon is the result of a particularly successful marriage between gravel and clay-limestone terroirs and Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. Powerful, tannic, full-bodied and rich in fruit, it also has all the typical elegance of the finest Pauillac wines.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This is among the finest wines I have ever tasted from this estate. Lavishly oaked, with gobs of pain grille and rich fruit, it is massive and concentrated. The color is dense ruby/purple. The bouquet offers notes of roasted coffee, tobacco, and jammy cassis. Although surprisingly soft and opulent on the attack, the mid-section and finish reveal the wine's full body, high flavor extraction, and moderate tannin. This complete, large-scaled Clerc-Milon will be at its finest between 2005-2018.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 1996 Clerc Milon was surprisingly closed on the nose, tightly wound at first but gently unfurling with scents of melted tar, desiccated orange peel and leather that are interwoven into the black fruit. I noticed a more pronounced tobacco scent developing with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a little more flesh than the 1996 d'Armailhac, spicy with cracked black pepper, Hoi Sin, bay leaf and Asian spice notes liberally sprinkled over the finish. Decant this for an hour before pouring folks.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, the 1996 Clerc Milon has a difficult job juxtaposed to the outstanding 1990. However it has a superb bouquet of blackberry, cedar, a touch of nail varnish and singed leather that remains very vigorous. The palate is medium-bodied with a soft opening that betrays the firm structure that follows. There is a masculinity to this Pauillac with rigid tannins, but there is plenty of spicy fruit layered at the backend to support it. It is well defined, very well focused and is maturing gracefully and with style. Drink now-2020. Tasted April 2013.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at Farr's horizontal and impressive it was too. Very little on the nose. Quite herbaceous, dried leaves and lacking lift. More fruit concentration on the palate. Cedar, blackberry, tobacco. Good definition. Structured but well-balanced. Quite stern - again this will need time but good potential. Tasted September 2006.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 12% Cabernet Franc blend, this is a fleshy, atypically succulent, voluptuously-textured Pauillac that will offer delicious drinking at a young age. The wine possesses plenty of volume and punch on the palate, with gobs of fruit, as well as a subtle dosage of new oak (about 35% new oak barrels are utilized at this estate). Low acidity and rich fruit conceal much of the wine's tannin, which is present but unobtrusive. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2012. A sleeper.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1996 Clerc-Milon, an interesting blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 25% Merlot, reveals a distinctive blueberry-scented nose with spicy, lead pencil, cedar, and toasty oak aromas. The wine is pure, with surprisingly tart, crisp acidity, more of a compact, tighter style than previous vintages, and moderate tannin in the finish. Usually a supple, plush, easy to understand and drink wine when young, the 1996 is more backward and structured, thus patience will be required. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2015.
About the Producer
A legendary terroir, prestigious neighbours, a providential encounter: the history and the success of Château Clerc Milon are summed up in these three words. The terroir is that of Pauillac, where some of the world’s finest wines are made. The neighbours are Mouton and Lafite, illustrious First Growths whose nearby vines can be seen from the terrace of the Château. The encounter was with Baron Philippe, who in 1970 acquired the then badly neglected estate and decided to restore it to its status as a Classified Growth. Now, thanks to Baroness Philippine, Clerc Milon, one of the most highly regarded châteaux in the Bordeaux region, can boast technical facilities and reception areas worthy of its reputation.
1949(2)1995(2)
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