2022 Château Clerc Milon, Pauillac, Bordeaux

The pockets of clay and limestone here mean that Merlot plays quite an important role in the blend and the character of the wine. In 2022, there is a juicy core of flavour easily attributable to Merlot, with its notes of plum and black cherry and the wine’s creamy texture. The excellent Cabernet Sauvignon weaves a fine thread of savoury, grainy notes through and around the wine. This is a confident, correct and benchmark 2022. Note that there is a rare sighting of Carmenère here; the estate has a small parcel planted in 1947.

Cabernet Sauvignon 59%; Merlot 32%; Cabernet Franc 8%; Carmenère 1%

Drink 2029 - 2050

Score: 17/20

Berry Bros. & Rudd (April 2023)