2012 Château Clerc Milon

The 2012 Clerc Milon is a little musty on the nose and lacks the delineation of its peers. Black fruit, touches of bell pepper and spices, then after 10 minutes, almost Grenache-like. The palate is sweet on the entry with a pastille-like red fruit, fine acidity, a little chewy and just missing some tension and precision towards its Saint-Julien like finish. A second bottle at Bordeaux Index's tasting demonstrated a little more tension, though I still feel that this is just lagging behind its peers. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.

This is lovely, with enticing floral aromatics. This was the point that Clerc Milon was beginning to stand out, with later picking and more careful work in vineyard and cellar, and I'm thrilled to see it perform so well at 10 years on. Touch of fennel and sage, with wild spices and herbs, whether from carmanere influence, or simply its distinctive soils. Clear power, with blueberry, red cherry, cassis, loganberry, fine but present tannins and a salted caramel finish. You can start drinking this now, but it will soften further. One to recommend, good persistency also. Harvest October 1-16, 45% new oak.

Tasted blind. Cedary nose. Very plump and exotic. Round fruit almost distracts from the tannins. A crowd-pleaser. Long. (JR)