CHÂTEAU CLERC MILON

The 2016 Clerc Milon is striking. Here, the interplay of dense fruit and supporting structure make for a wonderfully complete and expressive wine. Dark blue stone fruit, licorice, lavender, spice and menthol are all beautifully delineated in the glass. The aromatic and structure of both Cabernets come through with notable energy and precision. The 2016 has enough density and pedigree to drink well for many years to come. Drinking range: 2023 - 2036 Rating: 93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jan 2019)

The 2016 Clerc Milon is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenere (the latter vinification intégrale, so that it includes 50% of the stems, and Philippe Dhalluin said he was pleased with the results). It has a very pure bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit, a touch of cedar and ash in the background. It takes time to really unfold in the glass. The palate is adorable: svelte tannin, beautifully pitched acidity, great depth with a silky smooth finish that just caresses the mouth. There is a little tightness here compared to the more expressive 2016 d'Armailhac, but I have no doubt that it will turn into a top-flight Clerc-Milon. Drinking range: 2023 - 2050 Rating: 92-94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

Real aromatic lift. Calm, collected, lovely 'minerality'. Completely pure. Fully ripe but not a trace of sweetness. So cool! Drinking range: 2025 - 2043 Rating: 17.5+ Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2017)

Very fresh in feel, with bright cassis and cherry fruit racing along an iron edge. Shows a good sleek feel through the finish and a light tug of earth at the very end. A vivacious and delicious wine in the making. Rating: 93-96 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2017)

Refined and ultra-fine with a linear and polished character. Full-bodied, yet tight and racy. A classy and sophisticated young wine. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2017)

An estate that has been making great leaps forward over recent years, and once again we have a gorgeous Clerc on our hands. This is extremely succulent, with aromatic complexity and a freshness that just bursts out of the glass. Things start off closed for the first minute or so, then the juice comes rushing through. The mid-palate is smooth and polished but also bursting with energy. This is quite clearly one of their best ever wines, ripped through with sweet cherry and wild blackberry fruit, tightened up by slate and cedar. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenere (some of the oldest plantings of this grape in Bordeaux). Drinking range: 2027 - 2050 Rating: 96 Jane Anson, Decanter (Apr 2017)

The 2016 Clerc Milon is dense, plush and undeniably appealing. Plump fruit and supple tannins add to the wine's considerable charm. Here, too, the texture is sweet, plush and quite generous. A burst of dark blue/purplish fruit, grilled herbs, menthol and licorice punctuates the vivid finish. Clerc Milon has been terrific on each of the three occasions I have tasted it so far. Rating: 90-93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

Very different from but just as enjoyable as the richer, smoother 2015, this is a very impressive Clerc-Milon showing more freshness and precision. Bright and aromatic, with cut grass and black fruit notes, granular tannins and deftly integrated oak. Drinking range: 2022 - 2030 Rating: 93 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2017)

The 2016 Clerc-Milon has a crisp, graphite-infused bouquet of well-defined black fruit, hints of peony and iris petals showing underneath. The classic palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, well-judged acidity and just the right amount of austerity toward a finish that has a bitter edge. Excellent (and less "aloof" than I found 12 months earlier). Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. Drinking range: 2021 - 2036 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Dec 1899)