Château Clerc Milon
Château Clerc Milon
2015
From 115 EUR from 2 retailers
A refined Pauillac Grand Vin combining Cabernet-led structure, aromatic complexity and freshness with elegant tannins and the depth to evolve gracefully in bottle.
Country
France
Region
Bordeaux - Pauillac
Number of retailers: 2
Chateaunet
France
Château Clerc Milon
2015
Standard delivery 1-3 business days
bordeauxwines.se
Sweden
Château Clerc Milon
2015
Standard delivery 1-3 business days
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Producer
Château Clerc Milon
Set in Pauillac in the Médoc, Château Clerc Milon is a historic Classified Growth whose 41-hectare vineyard lies in a single sweep, much of it across the Mousset outcrop overlooking the Gironde estuary. The estate borders two First Classified Growths and combines deep gravel, sand and clay-limestone soils with a favourable estuarine microclimate.
Owned by the Rothschild family since Baron Philippe de Rothschild acquired it in 1970, Clerc Milon has undergone a long programme of vineyard restoration and technical development. Today, the estate combines historic Médoc terroir with precise parcel-by-parcel viticulture and modern winemaking facilities designed to express the individual character of its vineyards.
Quick Facts
- Producer: Château Clerc Milon
- Location: Pauillac, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
- Classification: Classified Growth, 1855 Classification of Médoc and Sauternes
- Vineyard: 41 hectares
- Owners: Camille Sereys de Rothschild, Philippe Sereys de Rothschild and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild
- Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Carmenere and Petit Verdot
History and Identity
The origins of Château Clerc Milon are closely connected with the historic seigneuries of Lafite and Mouton. Following the French Revolution, the Clerc family acquired the property when it was sold as a national asset. In 1850, the name of the neighbouring Pauillac hamlet of Milon was added to the family name, creating Château Clerc Milon. Five years later, the estate was included in the 1855 Classification.
After passing through several owners, the property was acquired in 1970 by Baron Philippe de Rothschild, who recognised the potential of its terroir and began an extensive renovation of the vineyard. His daughter, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, continued this work from 1988, overseeing a new vat room inaugurated in 2007 and the development of a modern architectural complex with a barrel hall and reception facilities in 2011.
Following Baroness Philippine's death in 2014, her children Camille and Philippe Sereys de Rothschild and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild continued the family's stewardship of the estate.
Estate, Vineyards and Terroir
Château Clerc Milon's vineyard extends across 41 hectares in a single contiguous block, much of it situated on the Mousset outcrop overlooking the Gironde. Its soils form a complex mosaic of windblown gravel and sand over a clay-limestone base, with variations across the estate allowing different grape varieties to be matched to specific parcels.
Cabernet Sauvignon is particularly associated with the deeper gravel soils, while Merlot occupies more clay-rich slopes. Cabernet Franc is planted towards the eastern part of the estate, where limestone becomes more prominent. Much of the vineyard was planted in the early twentieth century, and Clerc Milon also preserves one of Bordeaux's oldest plots of Carmenere.
The Gironde estuary plays an important moderating role. Sea breezes help reduce temperature extremes and regulate airflow and humidity, while the vineyard's slopes provide natural drainage and favourable exposure to sunlight.
2024 vineyard plantings reported by the estate comprise approximately:
- Cabernet Sauvignon: 54%
- Merlot: 37%
- Cabernet Franc: 9%
- Carmenere: 1.5%
- Petit Verdot: 1%
These figures describe the vineyard plantings and must not be interpreted as the blend of an individual vintage, which varies from year to year.
Viticulture
Viticulture at Clerc Milon increasingly combines detailed knowledge of individual soils and parcels with techniques intended to preserve biodiversity and reduce intervention. The estate is testing approaches based on natural inputs, studying its soils to reduce treatments and using pruning methods designed to respect sap flow.
Environmental initiatives extend beyond the vines. A permaculture vegetable garden was established in 2021, green waste is recycled into compost, and beehives and bird nesting boxes have been introduced alongside landscaping incorporating local plant species.
Harvesting is carried out by hand in small open crates, allowing fruit to enter the winery with limited handling.
Production and Winemaking
The modern vat room was designed around precise parcel selection. Individual parcels, and when required even sections within a parcel, can be harvested according to their own ripening schedule and vinified separately. The winery contains 40 temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats, which are gravity-fed to reduce unnecessary handling of the fruit.
The partly underground configuration helps regulate temperature naturally, while more than 300 square metres of solar panels contribute electricity to the vat room and barrel hall. The barrel cellar can accommodate more than 1,000 barrels.
The Grand Vin is matured for approximately 18 months in French oak barrels, around 55% new according to the estate's current production description. Pastourelle de Clerc Milon follows a different maturation regime, reflecting its role as the estate's second wine.
Style and Identity
Château Clerc Milon's identity is built around an unusual five-variety expression of Pauillac. Cabernet Sauvignon provides structure, complexity and ageing potential; Cabernet Franc contributes freshness and floral character; Merlot brings roundness and texture; Petit Verdot adds spice; and the small proportion of Carmenere contributes distinctive floral nuances.
The estate characterises its Grand Vin through precision and elegance, combining the structure expected of Pauillac with freshness, aromatic complexity and substantial ageing potential. The comparatively important role of Cabernet Franc and the continued presence of Carmenere are particularly distinctive elements of Clerc Milon's identity.
Portfolio
Château Clerc Milon
The estate's Grand Vin and principal expression of its Pauillac terroir. Its blend draws on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenere, with the precise proportions determined separately for each vintage.
Pastourelle de Clerc Milon
The second wine of Château Clerc Milon, first made in 2009 and subsequently introduced commercially. Produced from the same estate terroirs, it is conceived as a more immediately approachable expression, emphasising freshness, fruit and suppleness while retaining its Pauillac identity.
Country
Region
Bordeaux - Pauillac
Pauillac is one of the most respected appellations in Bordeaux and the only commune in the Médoc to contain three of the five First Growth estates from the historic 1855 Classification. Located on the Left Bank of the Gironde estuary in the Haut-Médoc, Pauillac combines centuries of winemaking heritage with exceptional terroir, producing powerful, structured wines that rank among the most collectible Bordeaux bottles. The appellation represents the pinnacle of Cabernet Sauvignon expression in the Médoc.
The appellation benefits from deep gravel beds mixed with sand and clay, providing excellent drainage and ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, which typically dominates blends alongside Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The moderating influence of the Gironde estuary protects vines from frost while extending the growing season, allowing grapes to achieve optimal ripeness. These geological and climatic factors contribute to wines of remarkable concentration, balance and longevity.
Pauillac is home to Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour and Château Mouton Rothschild, three of the world's most celebrated wine estates. Beyond the First Growths, the appellation includes distinguished producers such as Château Pichon-Longueville, Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande and Château Lynch-Bages. Pauillac wines are renowned for their firm tannins, cassis and blackcurrant character, cedar notes and exceptional ageing potential, often reaching their peak after decades in the cellar.
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Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most important and widely planted red wine grapes, renowned for its powerful structure, concentrated fruit and exceptional ageing potential. Originating in Bordeaux, France, the variety has become a defining grape of fine wine regions around the world, particularly Napa Valley, Tuscany, Chile, Australia and South Africa.
Classic Cabernet Sauvignon combines flavours and aromas of blackcurrant, cassis, blackberry and dark cherry with characteristic notes of cedar, graphite, tobacco and herbs. Naturally high tannins and fresh acidity provide structure and longevity, while maturation in oak can add layers of spice, vanilla and toast. Its character varies significantly with climate, soil and winemaking, ranging from elegant and savoury to rich, powerful and intensely concentrated.
In Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon is particularly associated with the Left Bank, where it forms the foundation of many prestigious blends alongside Merlot, Cabernet Franc and other permitted varieties. In Napa Valley, it has become the region’s signature red grape, producing some of the world’s most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
Cabernet Sauvignon’s ability to express terroir while retaining its distinctive structure and character has made it a global benchmark for premium red wine. Whether produced as the dominant variety in a blend or as a varietal wine, the finest examples combine concentration, complexity and the capacity to develop gracefully over decades
Merlot is one of the world’s most important red wine grapes, celebrated for its generous fruit, supple texture and ability to produce wines ranging from approachable and elegant to exceptionally complex and long-lived. Originating in Bordeaux, France, Merlot is particularly associated with the Right Bank, where it forms the foundation of many of the prestigious wines of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion.
Merlot typically expresses flavours and aromas of plum, black cherry, blackberry and red fruits, often developing notes of chocolate, tobacco, cedar, herbs and earthy complexity with maturation. Its naturally rounded texture and generally softer tannin profile distinguish it from Cabernet Sauvignon, although the finest examples can possess considerable structure, freshness and ageing potential.
In Pomerol, Merlot reaches some of its most celebrated expressions, particularly on the appellation’s clay-rich soils, producing wines of remarkable concentration, texture and complexity. In Saint-Émilion, it is commonly blended with Cabernet Franc and, to a lesser extent, Cabernet Sauvignon, creating wines that combine ripe fruit with structure, aromatic complexity and longevity.
Beyond Bordeaux, Merlot is widely cultivated in Italy, California, Washington State, Chile and other major wine regions. It can be produced as a varietal wine or used as a central component of blends, where its fruit and texture complement more structured grape varieties.
From the great Merlot-based wines of Bordeaux’s Right Bank to leading expressions around the world, Merlot’s combination of rich fruit, refined texture and capacity to express terroir has established it as one of the defining varieties of fine red wine.
Cabernet Franc is one of France’s most historic red wine grapes, valued for its aromatic intensity, vibrant acidity and ability to express both climate and soil with remarkable clarity. It produces elegant single-varietal wines and plays an essential role in some of Bordeaux’s most distinguished blends. Earlier ripening than Cabernet Sauvignon allows Cabernet Franc to perform particularly well in cooler wine regions.
In the Loire Valley, Cabernet Franc reaches its clearest expression as a varietal wine. Typical aromas include redcurrant, raspberry, red cherry and violet, often accompanied by graphite, dried herbs, tobacco and subtle peppery notes. Naturally fresh acidity and finely structured tannins can produce approachable, fruit-driven wines as well as complex examples capable of developing for many years.
The variety is especially important in Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny. Chinon can range from fragrant and supple to deeply structured and age-worthy, depending on vineyard site and soil. Bourgueil often combines dark red fruit with firm structure, while Saumur-Champigny is renowned for freshness, aromatic purity and refined texture. Limestone-rich tuffeau, gravel, sand and clay all contribute to the diversity of Cabernet Franc across these Loire appellations.
In Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc is principally associated with the Right Bank, particularly Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. Usually blended with Merlot and sometimes Cabernet Sauvignon, it contributes perfume, freshness, savoury complexity and structural precision. On suitable limestone and clay terroirs, Cabernet Franc can become a dominant component of exceptionally refined and long-lived wines.
Beyond France, Cabernet Franc is cultivated in regions including Tuscany, Bolgheri, Napa Valley, Washington State, Canada, Argentina and Chile, producing styles shaped by local climate and terroir. Traditionally known as Breton in the Loire and Bouchet in parts of Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc’s combination of aromatic elegance, freshness and ageing potential establishes it as one of the world’s great red wine varieties.
Petit Verdot is a powerful red wine grape from south-west France, best known as a small but distinctive component of the classic red blends of Bordeaux. Its deeply coloured wines, firm tannins and concentrated aromatics allow even modest proportions to add structure, freshness and intensity alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
On Bordeaux’s Left Bank, Petit Verdot is particularly associated with the gravel soils of the Médoc, including appellations such as Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe. The variety buds relatively early but ripens late, making complete maturation challenging in cooler vintages. When fully ripe, it can retain vibrant acidity while developing considerable colour, tannin and aromatic complexity.
Typical expressions show blackberry, black cherry, blueberry and plum, accompanied by violet, liquorice, pepper, cocoa and other dark spices. In Bordeaux blends, Petit Verdot is generally used in limited quantities to reinforce colour, tannic structure and aromatic depth. Its combination of acidity and tannin can also contribute significantly to a wine’s ageing potential.
Beyond Bordeaux, warmer and more reliable growing conditions have allowed Petit Verdot to achieve greater ripeness and a more prominent role. Producers in California, Australia, Spain and South America increasingly use the variety in both Bordeaux-style blends and varietal wines. These expressions are often full-bodied and deeply coloured, with ripe dark fruit, floral character, spice and powerful tannins.
From its historic role in the Médoc to its expanding presence as a varietal wine, Petit Verdot is defined by colour, structure, freshness and aromatic intensity. Once regarded primarily as a supporting grape, it is increasingly recognised as a distinctive variety capable of producing serious, age-worthy wines in its own right.
History and Style
Château Clerc Milon
Château Clerc Milon is the Grand Vin and principal wine of Château Clerc Milon, a historic Classified Growth in Pauillac on Bordeaux's Left Bank. It is a Cabernet Sauvignon-led red Bordeaux whose identity is shaped by five traditional varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenere.
The wine combines the structure and longevity associated with Pauillac with an unusually nuanced varietal palette. Cabernet Franc and the estate's small but distinctive presence of Carmenere contribute to an identity that separates Clerc Milon from many of its neighbours, while the precise composition of the final blend is determined independently for each vintage.
Quick Facts
- Producer: Château Clerc Milon
- Wine: Château Clerc Milon
- Category: Red Bordeaux
- Appellation: Pauillac
- Classification: Classified Growth, 1855 Classification
- Principal varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenere
History and Identity
Château Clerc Milon represents the estate's first wine, or Grand Vin, and the fullest expression of its Pauillac vineyards. The property was included in Bordeaux's historic 1855 Classification and has been under Rothschild family ownership since Baron Philippe de Rothschild acquired the estate in 1970.
Its modern identity has developed through decades of vineyard restructuring, increasingly detailed understanding of individual parcels and substantial investment in precision winemaking.
One of the wine's defining characteristics is its use of five Bordeaux grape varieties. While Cabernet Sauvignon forms the structural backbone, the estate regards each component as having a distinct role in the finished wine. The precise proportions change according to the character of each vintage.
Vineyards and Terroir
The fruit for Château Clerc Milon comes from the estate's Pauillac vineyards overlooking the Gironde estuary. Gravel and sandy soils over a clay-limestone base create a varied terroir that allows different grape varieties to be matched to individual parcels.
Cabernet Sauvignon is particularly suited to the deeper gravel soils, while Merlot benefits from more clay-influenced areas. Cabernet Franc occupies suitable limestone-influenced sectors, while Petit Verdot and Carmenere provide smaller but distinctive components.
The Gironde helps moderate temperature extremes, while the vineyard's slopes encourage natural drainage and favourable exposure.
Importantly, the estate's vineyard planting percentages should not be interpreted as the blend of Château Clerc Milon. The final assemblage is selected separately for every vintage, and the proportions can vary substantially from year to year. The estate's published 2021, 2022 and 2024 blends illustrate this variation clearly.
Production and Maturation
Grapes are harvested by hand in small open crates before entering a modern winery designed around precise parcel selection and gravity-fed handling. Individual parcels – and where necessary parts of individual parcels – can be vinified separately, allowing the estate to assess each component before determining the final Grand Vin blend.
The winery uses temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats and gravity to reduce unnecessary handling of the fruit.
Following vinification and selection, Château Clerc Milon is matured for approximately 18 months in French oak barrels, with the estate currently stating that around 55% are new. The barrel hall can accommodate more than 1,000 barrels under controlled conditions.
The exact composition of the wine remains vintage-specific and is therefore recorded separately on Sipfind's individual vintage pages.
The Five-Variety Blend
The combination of five varieties is one of Château Clerc Milon's defining characteristics.
Cabernet Sauvignon provides the wine's structural foundation, aromatic complexity and capacity for long ageing.
Merlot brings richness, roundness and a smoother, more velvety texture.
Cabernet Franc contributes freshness and forms an important part of Clerc Milon's distinctive character.
Petit Verdot adds spice and further aromatic complexity.
Carmenere, although normally present in small quantities, contributes floral nuances including violet and dried-rose characteristics and is considered by the estate an integral part of the wine's identity.
Style and Tasting Profile
Château Clerc Milon sits firmly within the classical framework of Pauillac while expressing a distinctive combination of structure, freshness and aromatic detail.
Cabernet Sauvignon provides depth and tannic architecture, balanced by the softer texture of Merlot and the freshness of Cabernet Franc. Petit Verdot and Carmenere can add spice and floral complexity to the finished blend.
Across vintages, the wine is associated with dark and red fruit, floral and spicy nuances, structured yet refined tannins and a long finish. These characteristics support considerable development in bottle, while the precise fruit profile, concentration and texture naturally change with the conditions of each vintage.
For this reason, Sipfind keeps vintage-specific tasting notes separate from the generic product description.
Ageing and Serving
Château Clerc Milon is conceived as a wine with significant ageing potential. The Cabernet-led structure and extended maturation in French oak allow strong vintages in particular to develop additional aromatic and textural complexity with bottle age. The estate itself describes Château Clerc Milon as having good ageing potential.
Exact drinking windows should be assessed by vintage rather than applied universally to the wine. Sipfind therefore associates drinking-window information, where sufficiently supported, with the relevant vintage page.