Château Clerc Milon 2006 is a mature and refined Pauillac, offering an attractive combination of ripe fruit, savoury complexity and firm Bordeaux structure. The nose reveals red and dark berries layered with tobacco, woodland, dried herbs and subtle toasted notes. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it delivers succulent blackberry and raspberry fruit with integrated tannins, mineral character and hints of white pepper. The long, balanced finish retains freshness and energy, making this a compelling mature Bordeaux.

The Wine Advocate | RP 90
Published: May 30, 2016
Date: 2016-2030

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Château Clerc-Milon has a very respectable bouquet: red fruit rather than black, laced with tobacco, woodland and dried herbs aromas, quite Saint Julien-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet, succulent opening: blackberry and raspberry fruit laced with salt and a dash of white pepper that leave the mouth tingling on the Merlot-driven finish. Tasted January 2016.

James Suckling | JS 90
Published: Jun 30, 2013

Aromas of currants and dark berries with hints of minerals. Full body with super-integrated tannins and a slightly austere and intense tannin backbone. But it’s pretty and attractive. Drink or hold.

Jancis Robinson | JR 17.5
Published: Apr 22, 2016
Date: 2017-2030

Tasted blind. Smudgy look. Edgy interesting nose. Racy, fragrant, with lots of sucky-stony character on the end. Pretty confident. Long. Very serious. Jancis Robinson

Chateau-clerc-milon.com

One of Château Clerc Milon’s distinctive features is its blend, which combines five typical Bordeaux grape varieties in a true reflection of its vineyard: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenere. Each variety’s contribution is essential but must be in the right proportions to express the best of the estate, vintage after vintage.

Cabernet Sauvignon brings structure and complex aromas and flavours as well as great ageing potential.
Cabernet Franc brings freshness. Its proportion is another distinguishing feature of the wine.
Merlot complements the Cabernets with its full and smooth character as well as its velvety mouthfeel.
The rich and complex array of aromas and flavours is set off by the spice notes of Petit Verdot.
Carmenere gives the best of itself, bringing subtle notes of wilted rose petals and violet. Making up a small proportion of the blend, it is an essential part of Château Clerc Milon.

Vintage 2006

The wine, a concentrated, dark red of considerable intensity, has a highly refined nose that opens on slightly toasted aromas mingled with floral notes.

On the palate it reveals a tightly-knit structure of stylish tannins, dense but not harsh, enhanced by forward fruit with crisp cherry notes.

The long and flavoursome finish shows beautiful balance, expressing the freshness of the fruit and the power of a skillfully controlled texture.

50%    Cabernet Sauvignon
44%    Merlot
6%    Cabernet Franc

Climatic Conditions
2006 was a year of surprises, marked by unusual conditions that will remain in the memory.

Generally speaking the weather was hot and dry, with much higher temperatures than the seasonal average in June, July and September. Such untypical conditions at key times during the vine growth cycle had a far-reaching and beneficial effect on the future quality of the crop.

Heavy rain at the end of the winter was followed by a long spell of warm and dry weather in April, May and June, enabling the vegetation cycle to catch up after a relatively late start. Flowering took place early and evenly, starting in late May. Veraison likewise began very early, mid-veraison occurring four days ahead of the average, though very hot weather in the second half of July slowed the process.

Although 2006 was another dry year (730 mm of rain was recorded, compared with an average of 886 mm), rainfall at regular intervals enabled the vines to cope well with the heat. A total of 459 mm of rain fell between 1 January and 31 August 2006, compared with an average of 517 mm.

The grapes started to ripen slowly in the cooler temperatures of August but subsequently accelerated in the exceptional conditions of the first half of September, with heatwave temperatures in the early part of the month.

A period of high temperatures and humidity soon brought the Merlots to maturity and picking began on 20 September. The harvest lasted until 5 October in variable weather conditions, producing a crop of fully mature grapes in excellent condition.