Pauillac

Beef, Lamb, Poultry, Game (deer, venison)

Château Clerc Milon is a prestigious winery located in the Pauillac appellation of the Bordeaux region, part of the Haut-Médoc. Classified as a Cinquième Cru (Fifth Growth) in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, the estate is now owned by the Baron Philippe de Rothschild family. The vineyard, which spans 41 hectares, is situated between the famous Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Lafite Rothschild, and benefits from its proximity to the Gironde estuary, which helps moderate the climate​. The vineyard is planted primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon, but also includes Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Carmenère, making it unique for its diversity. Clerc Milon's wines are known for their elegance, supple texture, and refined structure, with vintages offering flavours of blackcurrants, spice, and earthy notes​. Baron Philippe de Rothschild purchased the estate in 1970, modernizing it and significantly enhancing its reputation. Today, the estate produces around 16,000 cases annually, with a second wine, Pastourelle de Clerc Milon, introduced in 2009.

In 2016, there were two main trends in the weather as we experienced it in Pauillac: – a very wet winter and spring: more than half of the annual rainfall came in the first four months of the year, including a record 240 mm in January; – an extremely dry summer and autumn without any significant rainfall, resulting in a water deficit at the end of the year. As a consequence of the summer drought, the grapes were numerous but remained rather small, making for density and concentration. High temperatures in August and September allowed for slow ripening and excellent maturity, so that the harvest started with the Merlot on 26 September and continued in perfect conditions until 15 October. In the vat house, each grape variety and each plot were, as usual, vinified separately in order to let their intrinsic character shine through.