Château Clerc Milon 2019 is a Pauillac Fifth Growth from the Rothschild stable in northern Pauillac, with vineyards close to Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Mouton Rothschild. The 2019 is notably Cabernet-led—72% Cabernet Sauvignon with 22% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot—and several critics point out that this is among the estate’s highest Cabernet proportions in decades. Reviewers also note a mix of new and used barrels for élevage (Jeb Dunnuck).
In the glass, the wine reads as classic Pauillac but with a polished 2019 sheen. James Suckling awards an excellent 96 points, highlighting “aromas of crushed stone, blackcurrants and blackberries” and calling the tannins “chewy and layered, yet polished and fantastic,” adding, “Love the finish,” with a recommendation to drink after 2026. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (95 points) is similarly strong, with William Kelley calling it “a real success” and “a wine of real nobility,” marked by “violets, wild berries, licorice, loamy soil and cigar wrapper,” plus “lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish.” Decanter also lands at an excellent 95 points, praising a “great Cabernet nose” and a palate that is “soft yet muscular,” finishing with “menthol, liquorice and softly sweet” persistence; its suggested window is 2027–2044.
Other reviews reinforce the wine’s balance of concentration and lift. Antonio Galloni at Vinous (94 points) calls it “seriously impressive… dense, plush and explosive,” with “dried herbs, tobacco, menthol and licorice” on the finish. Jane Anson (95 points) emphasizes structure and build, citing “precision architecture,” “velvet texture,” and tannins that “have bite,” noting the harvest ran September 19 to October 9. TheWineCellarInsider (95 points) goes furthest, suggesting it is “in contention as the best vintage of Clerc Milon ever produced,” and proposes 2027–2047.
Overall, 2019 Clerc Milon is widely reviewed as a structured, Cabernet-driven Pauillac with depth, freshness, and aging potential, best approached with patience (or a decant in youth).
