The 2003 Clerc Milon Bordeaux Blend from Pauillac, Bordeaux, is a notable red wine with a strong reputation among critics. This French wine is particularly distinguished for its ability to retain freshness despite the challenging heat of the vintage. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate describes the wine as "surprisingly fresh and crisp," with a dense ruby/purple color and a full-bodied, powerful profile. The Advocate highlights its complex notes of "Chinese black tea, crème de cassis, licorice, and melted chocolate," suggesting cellaring for 4-5 years, followed by two decades of enjoyment.
Wine Spectator rates this vintage highly, awarding it a score of 93. The review praises its "loads of licorice and currants," and notes its "full-bodied palate" and "refined tannins." The wine is described as having a "long, long finish" and being very structured and layered, surpassing even the 2000 vintage in quality. The Spectator recommends enjoying this wine after 2010, with 8,330 cases produced.
James Suckling, echoing a similar sentiment, also awards the wine a score of 93. He notes a "slightly cooked fruit on the nose" with "toasted oak and meaty character." Suckling appreciates the full-bodied nature and "round and chewy tannins," calling the wine "big and burly." He suggests pulling the cork after 2015 to fully appreciate its qualities.
Jeff Leve offers a slightly more modest score of 90, focusing on the wine's "wet earth, spice box, truffle tobacco, and fresh blackberries" aroma. He highlights its "medium-bodied, finesse-styled" character, noting it avoids the overripe qualities often found in this vintage. Leve notes the wine is "soft and close to fully mature," with a "dusty quality to tannins" in the finish.
Overall, the 2003 Clerc Milon is a powerful, structured Bordeaux blend that has been well-received by critics and promises a rewarding experience for those patient enough to let it mature.