Description

Pastourelle de Clerc Milon, the product of an exceptional terroir, is the second wine of Château Clerc Milon, a Classified Growth from 1855 in Pauillac. The pastourelle is a traditional dance that evokes the romantic encounter of a knight with a shepherdess: the name refers to the dancing couple that adorns the label of the Grand Vin. This precious miniature from the Museum of Wine in Art at Château Mouton Rothschild, made of gold, enamel and pearls, belonged to Catherine II, the Empress of Russia, and is inspired by characters from the Commedia dell'Arte. Baroness Philippine de Rothschild chose it as the Clerc Milon emblem because of her love of the theatre.

Pastourelle de Clerc Milon is a round and smooth wine and charms with the elegant richness of its aromas and flavors. It is also a living proof of the significant quality improvements that have been made to the property since the arrival of Baron Philippe and his descendants. The Pastourelle de Clerc Milon is made from grapes grown in the vineyard of the famous Classified Growth, it is vinified and bottled with the same meticulous care: the grapes are harvested in small crates and the wine is fermented in the Clerc Milon barrel room and aged in oak barrels barrels in the traditional way. All the conditions are there to obtain the elegance and richness of a great Pauillac. 2009 was the first year of Pastourelle de Clerc Milon, whose label features the two dancers from Château Clerc Milon.

Château Clerc Milon is located in the northeast of the Pauillac appellation, on the beautiful Mousset ridge overlooking the Gironde. The winery has some 41 hectares of vines planted on a gentle slope that promotes both natural drainage and exposure to sunlight, while the nearby river creates a microclimate that protects the vines from spring frost, reduces the risk of hail and cooling in the summer. The soil consists of sandy gravel and clay-limestone. The vineyard is planted with 5 typical varieties of the region: Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (37%), Cabernet Franc (10%), Petit Verdot (2%) and Carmenere (1%). The average age of the vines is 53 years, probably one of the highest in the Medoc. The density of the vines is high, varying between 8,500 and 10,000 vines per hectare, depending on the plot.

Specifications

Type of Wine	Red
Country	France
Region	Bordeaux
Appellation	Pauillac
Winery	Chateau Clerc Milon
Grape	Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Biological certified	No
Natural wine	No
Vegan	No
Vintage	2020
Drinking as of	2023
Drinking till	2034
Alcohol %	14
Alcohol free/low	No
Content	0.75 ltr
Oak aging	Yes
Sparkling	No
Dessert wine	No
Closure	Cork
Parker rating	90
James Suckling rating	93
Vinous rating	93
Tasting Profiles	Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Mineraal, Tannines
Drink moments	Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard

Professional Reviews

Parker

90

James Suckling

93

Vinous

93

Wijnhuis

Château Clerc Milon is located in the northeast of the Pauillac appellation, on the beautiful Mousset ridge overlooking the Gironde. The winery has some 41 hectares of vines planted on a gentle slope that promotes both natural drainage and exposure to sunlight, while the nearby river creates a microclimate that protects the vines from spring frost, reduces the risk of hail and cooling in the summer. The soil consists of sandy gravel and clay-limestone. The vineyard is planted with 5 typical varieties of the region: Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (37%), Cabernet Franc (10%), Petit Verdot (2%) and Carmenere (1%). The average age of the vines is 53 years, probably one of the highest in the Medoc. The density of the vines is high, varying between 8,500 and 10,000 vines per hectare, depending on the plot.

A legendary terroir, prestigious neighbours, a providential encounter: these factors mark the history and success of Château Clerc Milon. The terroir is in Pauillac, where some of the world's best wines are made. Its illustrious neighbors are Mouton and Lafite, whose nearby vines can be seen from the Château's terrace.

Winery Clerc Milon uses environmentally friendly, integrated viticultural techniques, which limit the use of pesticides to an absolute minimum. In the vineyard itself, the careful monitoring and strict plot selection are comparable to those of Mouton Rothschild. The winery makes, among other things, the great red Château Clerc Milon wine, with considerable potential for aging. The wine has a particularly successful association with the gravelly and claystone terroirs, and with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The wine is powerful, tannic, fruity and harmoniously full-bodied and shows all the typical elegance of the best Pauillac wines.

Château Clerc Milon was part of Mr. Lafite's vast estates in the 18th century, and was sold in the Revolution as a "national asset". The Clerc family then acquired it and joined that of the Pauillac hamlet of Milon where it was located. In 1970, Baron Philippe de Rothschild took over Château Clerc Milon because he was very convinced of the wine's potential. The estate was only 16.5 hectares, just over half of its original size. Baron Philippe de Rothschild had a long reign (1922-1988). He was a man of culture (poet) and a man of action. He was marked by a series of important decisions, some of which would revolutionize, stamped by his constant personal dedication, spirit of independence and visionary genius within the world of wine.

In 1983, the label Château Clerc Milon was illustrated with a drawing of a pair of dancers made of precious stones. The drawing is a sumptuous work by a 17th-century goldsmith, which is also exhibited in the Museum at the neighboring winery Château Mouton Rothschild.

Over the years, the winery was expanded further and further. In 2011, among other things, with the commissioning of a 3,600 m² complex consisting of a semi-underground walking hall, a cellar, reception and tasting rooms.