2017 Chateau Clerc Milon - 5eme Cru Pauillac

Falstaff Magazin - 92pts - PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, feiner Nougattouch, ein Hauch von dunklem Waldbeerkonfit, zart nach Orangenzesten. Saftig, rund und elegant, zarte Tannine, frisch strukturiert, ausgewogen, anegenehme Würze, ein facettenreicher Speisenbegleiter.* -05/2018

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 93-95pts - LPB: *A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carménère, the 2017 Clerc Milon is deep garnet-purple in color and scented of crushed red and black currants, wild blueberries and black pepper with touches of cigar box, violets, underbrush and menthol. Medium-bodied and with a very firm structure of wonderfully ripe, pixelated tannins and exhilarating freshness, it finishes long with notes of pebbles and floral perfume.* -04/2018

Vinum Magazin – 17,5/20pts: * Bleibt lecker und saftig trotz der präsenten kompakten Struktur, dem tragenden, runden Tanningerüst, der grossen Dichte und Länge, besitzt Schliff und grosse Klasse.*- 09/2020

Weinwisser - 17pts: *Dichtes Granat mit aufhellendem Rand. Intensives Waldbeerbouquet mit Rosenholz und hellem Tabak. Am festen Gaumen mit straffem, sehnigem Körper. Im gebündelten Finale reife Preiselbeeren, frisches Kakaopulver und zarte Adstingenz. Kommt leider nicht an das Vorjahr heran.* -04/2018

JancisRobinson.com – 16+/20pts – TP: *Tasted blind. Deep ruby colour. Pure blackcurrant fruit on the nose, with some anise and clove. Rich but ripe and sandy tannins on the palate frame an intense, tight core of black fruit. There is a little warmth on the back end, but there is enough density to retain balance.* - 09/2021

JamesSuckling.com - 90-91pts - JS: *A juicy and fruity red with tile, dark-berry and stone character. Medium-bodied, fresh and chewy. A little one-dimensional now but will turn out very well. Second wine of Clerc.* -04/2018

Vinous.com - 88-91pts - AG: *The 2017 Clerc Milon is painfully backward and austere. In a vintage in which so many wines are forward and fruity, Clerc Milon is the exact opposite. There is not much pleasure or immediacy here, that much is evident. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, leather and licorice add to the wine's dark personality. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenère, aged in 50% new oak. After the frost, which did not really affect us, the major challenge in 2017 was heat stress," Mouton Technical Director Philippe Dhalluin told me. "We had no rain until the end of June. Then, in September, when we needed a bit of rain again, we got more than double what would have been optimal. The September rain affected the Merlot and Cabernet Franc, while the Cabernet Sauvignon was able to take advantage of the last 15 days of the growing season, which were much more favorable. In the cellar, we opted for longer macerations at lower temperatures, as we wantto avoid extracting the type of hard tannins that mark other vintages with very dry summers, such as 2011. *-05/2018
~~~
Vinous.com - 92 pts - NM: *The 2017 Clerc Milon, which contains a tiny lot of Carmenère, has a delightful bouquet that offers blackberry, briary flecks of cocoa nibs and freshly rolled tobacco. It is tightly wound at the moment and simply requires bottle age. The palate is medium-bodied with a fresh, vibrant entry. It is a strict and quite linear Clerc Milon, "correct" to the point of being straight-laced with a well defined, classically styled off-dry finish. Fine, classy, if medium rather than long-term. What you might call a "cool" customer.* 02/2020

Wine Journal - 89-91pts - NM: *The 2017 Clerc Milon was picked from 13 to 29 September and matured in 50% new oak (which was represented in the blend tasted.) It has a more closed, backward bouquet compared to the sample of d’Armailhac. It actually reminds me of that other “Milon”, Duhart-Milon in style. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, a fine bead of acidity, quite austere and conservative with a precise, pencil-lead, Valrhona chocolate and smoke infused finish that just pulls up a little short at the moment. Tasted three times with consistent notes.* -05/2018