CHATEAU CLERC MILON 5eme Grand Cru Classe, Pauillac 2018 Bottle

Description

Chateau Clerc Milon 2018 is a focused, classically structured Pauillac marrying ripe dark fruit with fine tannic architecture. Deep ruby with a purple rim, it opens with blackcurrant, blackberry and dark plum, lifted by violet and cedar, then pencil lead, tobacco leaf and olive tapenade with aeration. Medium plus with a satiny mid palate, finely grained tannins give backbone while bright acidity keeps the wine lively; savoury smoked meat, soy reduction and clove from oak add depth, finishing long, saline and mineral. Approachable with decanting but built for cellar. Drink 2026 to 2040. Pair with roast lamb, beef Wellington, venison or mushroom and truffle dishes. Critics: Decanter 96 "Classicism and life"; Wine Enthusiast 96 "Opulent and age worthy"; James Suckling 95 "Tightly knit tannins".

The palate is generous yet refined, showing a satiny texture and finely grained tannins that provide backbone without undue austerity. Primary dark fruit of cassis and plum is supported by a bright seam of acidity that keeps the wine lively and focused. Mid palate development brings savoury layers of smoked meat, soy reduction and dried herb, while discreet oak influence contributes clove, vanilla and a shadow of dark chocolate that adds weight to the finish. There is a cool mineral thread and a faint iron note that reinforce the Pauillac signature and extend the length.

The 2018 vintage in Bordeaux combined warm ripening conditions with cooler spells at crucial moments, producing wines with ripe, concentrated fruit balanced by clarity and tension. At Clerc Milon this has produced a wine that is approachable for its class yet has the structure to age gracefully. The overall impression is one of balance between generosity and precision, where fruit, acid and tannin are in harmony.