Château Clerc Milon 2022 Pauillac 750ml

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate called it, without qualification, the finest example of the château they'd ever tasted. That is a serious claim for an estate whose Rothschild-owned history stretches back more than half a century, through vintages that have already earned Clerc Milon a reputation as one of Pauillac's most consistent overachievers — a Fifth Growth that regularly performs, in the words of one longtime taster, "well beyond its classification." The 2022 has become the vintage that made that reputation official across the board.

Baron Philippe de Rothschild bought Clerc Milon in 1970 when it was little more than a forgotten 10.5-hectare plot in poor condition. His descendants have spent five decades proving what he suspected all along: that the estate's 41 hectares of sandy gravel and clay-limestone soils, sitting on a crest between Mouton Rothschild and Lafite Rothschild overlooking the Gironde estuary, were capable of genuinely serious wine. The 2022 vintage is deep purple-hued, with what one reviewer called "a sensational perfume of crème de cassis, spring flowers, spicy oak, and graphite." Full-bodied and concentrated, yet carrying what's been specifically described as a weightless mouthfeel alongside beautiful, well-resolved tannins — a combination of density and lift that makes for a genuinely riveting Pauillac.

James Suckling awarded 96 Points and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate matched it at 96 Points, calling this "the finest example of the château I've tasted." Wine Enthusiast awarded 95 Points. Vinous, under Antonio Galloni, placed it in the 91-93 point range from barrel — "a dense core with generous black fruits, very perfumed and ripe, with a fine structure as well as an open character." Aromas of sweet crème de cassis, licorice, violets, and creamy new oak; full-bodied, rich, and layered, with ripe, integrated tannins, lively acidity, and a long finish. The wine's clay-limestone terroir, as Parker's team specifically noted, lends it "a distinctive signature that sets it apart from the rest of the portfolio" — the signature of a Fifth Growth quietly delivering First Growth seriousness.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Château Clerc Milon's land was part of the vast estates of the seigneury of Lafite in the 18th century before being sold as a national asset during the French Revolution. The Clerc family acquired the property and joined their name to the Pauillac hamlet of Milon, and the estate was awarded Fifth Growth status in the 1855 Classification. Baron Philippe de Rothschild — already owner of neighboring Mouton Rothschild — acquired the neglected property in 1970, when only 10.5 hectares were in production. Under the Baron and, after his death, his daughter Baroness Philippine, the estate underwent sustained modernization, including a gravity-fed vat room installed in 2007 and a humidity-controlled barrel room added in 2011. Today the estate is managed by Baron Philippe's three grandchildren, with Caroline Artaud directing the property.

The vineyard spans 41 hectares positioned on a crest between Mouton Rothschild and Lafite Rothschild, overlooking the Gironde estuary, whose large body of water helps moderate the local climate. Soils are sandy gravel and clay-limestone — a combination the estate's own team credits with giving Clerc Milon a distinctive signature within the broader Rothschild portfolio. Five grape varieties are planted: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc form the backbone, alongside tiny plots of Petit Verdot and Carménère (from a very old plot originally planted in 1948). Grapes are hand-picked, with each parcel receiving up to three passes to optimize quality. The 2022 blend is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carménère. Clerc Milon has progressively increased its use of new oak in recent vintages — not to load the wine with oak spice, but to forge a tighter, tenser frame around the fruit — with aging typically running 16 to 18 months.

Critics Reviews

James Suckling — 96 Points

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate — 96 Points:
"The finest example of the château I've tasted, the 2022 Château Clerc Milon is deep purple-hued with a sensational perfume of crème de cassis, spring flowers, spicy oak, and graphite. It's full-bodied, concentrated, has a weightless mouthfeel, and beautiful tannins, all making for a riveting Pauillac."

Wine Enthusiast — 95 Points

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) — 91-93 Points (barrel sample):
"This has a dense core (with generous black fruits) and is very perfumed and ripe. The wine has a fine structure as well as an open character."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Deep purple-hued, with a sensational perfume of crème de cassis leading the way. Spring flowers and violets add delicate lift, while spicy oak and graphite provide the classic Pauillac mineral backbone. Licorice and creamy new oak add warmth and depth. Fragrant, perfumed black berries and purple flowers round out a nose that reads intense, concentrated, deep, dark, and rich from the first approach.

Palate
Full-bodied and concentrated, yet carrying a genuinely weightless mouthfeel — the paradox that multiple critics singled out as the defining quality of this vintage. A dense core of generous black fruits meets fine structure and an open, expressive character. Bold and characterful from the first sip, supple and generous, with strawberry and red cherry fruit providing immediate tang and excitement. Ripe, integrated tannins and lively acidity carry real drive while remaining plush — silky yet well defined, weighty and forward without ever feeling heavy.

Finish
Long, with stoney, cool tannins entering to give frame and focus at the close. Beautiful, well-resolved tannins carry through a finish of genuine length and precision — the clay-limestone terroir's distinctive signature most directly apparent here, according to the estate's own team.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Roast lamb or leg of lamb
• Grilled ribeye or filet mignon
• Duck breast with dark fruit sauce
• Aged hard cheeses
• Classic Bordelaise cuisine