Clerc Milon Pauillac 2018

96 points Jane Anson (Decanter): "This is an extremely successful Clerc Milon in a run of great vintages at the property. Lovely purity, clear big tannins, and real poise and tension. Persistent, succulent, full of cassis, liquorice and crushed mint. Seriously impressive and will go the distance. Harvest from 17 September to 10 October. Blend completed by 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenère. Drinking Window: 2026-2045. (11/10/20)"

96 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "I liked d’Armailhac at the primeurs, but Clerc-Milon knocked my socks off, an impact no doubt helped by its dedicated cellars, the development of a second label and a new sense of direction. It was one of the best Clerc-Milons I could recall tasting, and coming back to it now it is in bottle I am delighted that none of this early panache has faded. The fruit has that dark and luscious character brought by the vintage, all black cherry, black liquorice and dried currant, with a little chalk dust lift which seems appropriate (there is a little streak of limestone in the Clerc-Milon vineyards). The palate is just delightful, cool, focused and correct, all very linear and focused, the style a step up from the wines made here in even recent years. Fresh, thoroughly wrapped up in ripe tannin, and loaded with concentrated fruit, this has everything it needs for a decade or two in the cellar. A fabulous Clerc-Milon. The alcohol here is declared as 14%, modest the vintage. (Feb 2021)"

95 points La Revue du Vin de France: "2018, which we were able to taste again, confirms its status as a very fine success for the vintage which, to the fleshiness of the fruit, adds beautiful tension and precision in the tannic framework. It will undoubtedly evolve well. (2022)"

95 points James Suckling: "Blackcurrants, tobacco, graphite, cloves and dried leaves on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tightly knit tannins. Structured and compact with a long, mineral finish. Tight and austere. Very pretty structure here. Wait until 2025. (4/22/21)"

94+ points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "The 2018 Clerc Milon is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Carménère. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it has a very pure, beautifully delineated nose of crushed blackcurrants, fresh black plums and boysenberries with hints of wild thyme, damp soil, tar and black olives. The medium to full-bodied palate offers taut, muscular black fruit with loads of savory layers and a firm, grainy texture, finishing long and mineral tinged. Drink: 2023-2039. (3/31/21)"

94 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Carmenère). Excellent quality, with abundant juice, slate tannins, plump black cherry, fig and blackberry fruit, ripe and rich in the character of the 2018 vintage but this is still a Pauillac with a firm voice. Eucalyptus, cocoa bean, turmeric, sage and liqourice add layers to the finish. Harvest September 17 to October 10. Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy technical director. Drink: 2028-2045. Alcohol 14%. (10/14/22)"