1996 Château Clerc Milon
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Tasting notes
Full bottle 1,294 g. Mid ruby that's a bit more intense than the colour of the Sarget de Gruaud Larose 1996 served alongside. More concentrated fruit and less sweet than the Sarget. Some of the severity of Pauillac, but with definite persistence – really very impressive. This bottle is quite intense, youthful and vigorous! (JR)
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Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Full bottle 1,299 g. Transparent blackish ruby. Pale rim. Fully evolved Pauillac cedary/mineral/cassis nose. Then real sweetness on the palate, finishing dry. Rather ethereal. This may seem rather weak to our Napa Valley dinner guests. Best drunk pretty soon. (JR)
An exceptional vintage, the tannins of this 1996 feel a little edgy and austere, although there is precision on display, with waves of graphite and liqourice along with classic cassis fruits and sweetened bilberry puree, I would give this a few more years and go for the 1990 right now (or the 1996 Armailhac), Eric Tourbier technical director. Harvest September 30 to October 9.
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.
About the producer
Ch. Clerc Milon was purchased by Baron Philippe Rothschild in 1970. Today the 41-hectare vineyard, sandwiched between First Growths Ch. Lafite Rothschild and Ch. Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac, is one of Bordeaux’s most impressive Fifth Growths