Chateau Clerc Milon Rothschild 2023

DECANTER: "Strong intense nose, some herbal markers and blackcurrants. Gorgeous vibrant colour in the glass, vivid purple rim. Round and full - rich for the vintage, a lovely weight to the texture, yes it’s straight and streamlined but it also has juicy and plummy fruit, acidity that isn't too pronounced or too overt and tannins that grip and take hold. Clean and clear, perhaps not the longest of them all, but there’s an enjoyable lingering wet stone, chalky minerality on the finish. Straight and well defined, this has some chew which I also like, and with time in oak, this will expand. Lots on offer! 1.5% Carménère and 1% Petit Verdot complete the blend. 59% grand vin production. 68 IPT."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This has a great finish, with blackcurrant, chocolate, hazelnut and salt undertones that run the length of the wine. Full-bodied and dense, and then it lifts off at the end. Chalky undertone, coming from the limestone terroir here. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, 6.5% cabernet franc, 1.5% carmenere and 1% petit verdot."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart nach Edelholz und Nugat, frische Herzkirschen, zartes Cassis, sehr einladendes Bukett. Saftig, balanciert, feine Süße, reife Pflaumen, runde Tannine, gute Frische, besitzt Länge und Potenzial, ein stoffiger Speisenbegleiter."

WEINWISSER: "72 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 19 % Merlot, 6.5 % Cabernet Franc, 1.5 % Carménère, 1 % Petit Verdot, 13.5 Vol.-%. Delikates Bouquet, betörende Walderdbeeren, Veilchen- und Iris-Duft, Johannisbeernektar und edle Cassiswürze. Am saftigen, geradlinigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, engmaschigem Tanningerüst und vibrierender Rasse, gibt Zug und Länge. Im konzentrierten langen Finale rote Beeren, Graphit und herrliche Extraktfülle."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Cedar, flowers, mint, and red currants with a hint of Indian spice blend to produce the perfume. On the palate, the wine is fresh, silky, and refined, with a purity to the red fruits, along with a touch of spice that lingers in the finish. While this will be delicious young, give it a bit of time in the bottle, as it will improve with age. Picking took place September 7-September 29. The wine blends 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Petit Verdot, and 1.5% Carmenere. 13.5% ABV, 3.83 pH. Drink from 2027-2050."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Clerc Milon features flamboyant notes of blackcurrant pastilles, boysenberries, and fresh plums plus hints of licorice, lilacs, and underbrush. The medium-bodied palate is bright and breezy, with approachable fine-grained tannins and bags of freshness, finishing with a skip in its step. The blend is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Carmenere, and 1% Petit Verdot, with pH 3.83. The alcohol is 13.5%."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Revealing aromas of red berries, cherries and blackcurrants mingled with hints of pencil shavings and new oak, the 2023 Clerc Milon is medium to full-bodied, deep and fleshy, with a layered core of fruit, sweet velvety tannins and a seamless, succulent profile. It's a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6.5% Cabernet Franc and the balance Carmenère and Petit Verdot."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2023 Château Clerc Milon is gorgeous, with a salty, slightly bloody character in its red and black fruits, flowers, chalky mineral, and spicy oak-like aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, focused, elegant, yet beautifully concentrated red that has ripe tannins, beautiful overall balance, and outstanding length. Based on 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Carmenere and Petit Verdot, it’s aging in 55% new barrels and hit 13.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.83."