Tasted ex-château and single blind in Southwold. The Clerc-Milon 2008 has an earthy broody bouquet with dark plum blackberry and cedar aromas a saline note in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins fine delineation and good substance. It is a little oaky on the tobacco-tinged finish but there is enough fruit to back it up. Very fine. Tasted January 2012.

The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2008 Clerc Milon offers attractive aromas of toast black currants and forest floor. Deep full-bodied rich elegant and moderately tannic this impressively endowed 2008 is an outstanding success from the Mouton Rothschild staff (who are responsible for making this wine). It will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and should drink well for 15 years.

This offers a solid structured core of red currant cherry skin and fig notes laced with savory herb violet and light-handed toast. There's nice cut on the iron-tinged finish with some depth in reserve for the cellar. Drink now through 2016. -JM