Clerc Milon 1991

Clerc Milon is a wine estate in the Pauillac district of the Médoc, rated as a fifth growth in the Bordeaux Classification of 1855. The Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wine is known for its supple texture and is regarded as something of a bargain for the appellation.

The vineyard covers 41 hectares (101 acres) of vines in the northeast of Pauillac, between the Mouton Rothschild and Lafite Rothschild properties on a crest overlooking the Gironde. The soil is predominantly made up of sandy clay over a clay-limestone base, and a slight slope helps with drainage. The Clerc Milon vineyard also benefits from the close proximity of the estuary, which helps to moderate the climate.

Five grape varieties are planted in the Clerc Milon vineyard: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc with tiny plots of Petit Verdot and Carmenère. Grapes are hand-picked, and each parcel of vines may have three passes to optimise quality. In 2007, a new gravity-fed vat room with 40 stainless steel tanks was completed, followed by a humidity-controlled barrel room in 2011. Clerc Milon wines are aged for 16 to 18 months in 40 percent new oak barrels.

The history of the estate began with the disposal of the larger Lafite estates during the French Revolution, with the Clerc family buying a portion near the hamlet of Milon. In 1970, Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Mouton Rothschild bought the  property which has been extended and continuously improved over succeeding decades. The label’s two dancers represent a 17th Century work in gold and precious stones displayed at the Museum of Wine in Art at Château Mouton Rothschild.