2011 Château Clerc-Milon

Château Clerc-Milon is a Fifth Growth Bordeaux in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux. The estate was purchased in 1970 by the Baron Philippe de Rothschild, who spent several decades modernizing the estate and improving the quality of the wine. Today the estate is run by the Baron’s daughter. There is no actual château on the estate, which is comprised of 100 acres planted to 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenere. The vineyard is adjacent to both Mouton Rothschild and Lafite Rothschild. About 16,000 cases are produced annually.

Pauillac is Bordeaux’s most famous appellation, thanks to the fact that it is home to three of the region’s fabled first-growth châteaux, Lafite-Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild and Latour. Perched on the left bank of the Gironde River north of the city of Bordeaux, Pauillac is centered around the commune of Pauillac and includes about 3,000 acres of vineyards. The Bordeaux classification of 1855 named 18 classified growths, including the three above mentioned First Growths. Cabernet Sauvignon is the principal grape grown, followed by Merlot. The soil is mostly sandy gravel mixed with marl and iron. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that “the textbook Pauillac would tend to have a rich, full-bodied texture, a distinctive bouquet of black currants, licorice and cedary scents, and excellent aging potential.”