2025 Château Clerc Milon Grand Cru Classé Pauillac

EXCLUSIVE - EXPECTED SPRING 2028

Winery Château Clerc Milon

Château Clerc Milon is one of the renowned Grand Cru Classés of Pauillac and has been part of the Rothschild family of Château Mouton Rothschild since 1970. Under the leadership of Baron Philippe de Rothschild and later his daughter Philippine de Rothschild, the château underwent a complete quality revolution. Clerc Milon is known for its classic Pauillac signature, in which structure, refinement, and aromatic precision come together. The vineyards are spread across excellent terroirs in Pauillac and benefit from a mix of gravel and calcareous clay soils. More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.

Region, climate and location

Château Clerc Milon is located in Pauillac, an appellation known for powerful yet refined Cabernet Sauvignon-driven wines. The vineyards are situated on a combination of gravel soils and calcareous clay, a terroir that provides structure, freshness, and aging potential. The 2025 vintage experienced a mild winter with early bud formation in late March. A wet spring, with significantly more rainfall than average in April, resulted in strong vegetative growth. From May onwards, a warm and dry period set in, lasting until the end of August. Although there was clear water stress, it remained limited and healthy, without scorched grapes or excessive ripening blockages. Significant rainfall of approximately 80 mm in late August fundamentally altered the profile of the vintage. According to winemaker Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy, this shifted the style from a potentially warm and powerful profile towards a much more classic expression, with lower alcohol, fresh acidity, and striking balance.

Vineyards and grape varieties

The blend of Château Clerc Milon 2025 consists of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carmenère, and 1% Petit Verdot . With this, the wine displays the full expression of all five grape varieties planted on the estate.

Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone of the wine, bringing structure, cedar-like spices, and classic Pauillac tension. Merlot provides ripe red fruit and a softer texture, while Cabernet Franc adds floral refinement. Carmenère and Petit Verdot provide extra depth, spiciness, and length. The 41 hectares of vineyards have an average age of approximately 47 years, which clearly contributes to concentration and terroir expression.

Harvest, vinification and aging

The harvest took place between September 3 and 19 and was completed historically early. Despite the dry conditions, the grapes remained exceptionally healthy and concentrated, although the small berries resulted in lower yields, particularly on better-draining plots. The wine ages for eighteen months in French oak barriques, approximately 55% of which are new . Neal Martin notes that the wood is slightly more prominent at this stage than in d'Armailhac, but expects full integration after bottle aging. With an alcohol percentage of only 13.1% and a pH of 3.78 , Clerc Milon 2025 displays a remarkably classic balance for a dry and warm year.

Color, smell and taste

Château Clerc Milon 2025 opens with aromas of dark berries, cassis, and plums, complemented by floral notes of violets and flower petals. Behind these emerge orange zest, pencil shavings, white pepper, tobacco, and subtle notes of new wood. The aromatic structure feels classic Pauillac, but with striking freshness.

On the palate, the wine combines density with refinement. William Kelley of Wine Advocate praises the concentration, the lively acidity, and the chalky finish, while Neal Martin particularly notes the round and smooth opening. Red and dark fruits alternate, supported by spices, light chocolate, and a subtle smokiness.

James Suckling describes the wine as typically Clerc Milon, with bright fruit, structure, and a linear, lively finish in which even a subtle flinty note emerges. What impresses most is the combination of energy and precision. Despite the concentration, the tannins remain refined, chalky, and remarkably well-integrated.

Summary of professional reviews

94-95 points – James Suckling: praises the classic style, juicy structure, fresh energy, and linear finish with subtle flinty tension. 93-95 points – William Kelley, Wine Advocate: highlights dark berries, orange zest, floral notes, and a lively, chalky finish. 92-94 points – Neal Martin, Vinous: calls the wine round, refined, and possibly stronger than d'Armailhac in 2025, although according to him, the wine requires patience for optimal integration. The full review texts can be found in the tab: Professional reviews.

Wine & Food Pairing and Discount

If available, you will find the official factsheet and additional information about this fine wine in the 'Attachments' tab. We will automatically send these to you upon ordering this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to collect the wine, you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you select 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht, situated almost next to the A16 with ample parking. Click here for our address.

You can read full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the ideal wine for your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grandcruwijnen customers. In the Food tab, you will find advice on what to look for for the right food and wine pairing, and a number of dish suggestions from our Sommelier.