2000 Ch. Clerc Milon

[AlexR]

I’m having a whale of a time drinking many of my 2000 Bordeaux. There will always be people telling you to wait another couple of decades, to which I say "Bah, humbug !". Of course, the very top wines may need that much time. But many, many wines of less exalted lineage are fine just now.
Trust me.

To wit, this 2000 Clerc Milon (40 hectares), a 5th growth from the Mouton Rothschild stable. I’ve always liked Clerc Milon and agree with conventional views that it is one notch above its brother, another 5th growth Pauillac, Ch. d’Armailhac (70 hectares), with which it is inevitably compared. This is reflected in the prices of the respective wines.

I visited the new Clerc Milon cellar last year. It is built in a resolutely modern style on a rise directly overlooking Ch. Lafite Rothschild.
Apparently, a new cellar is also planned for d’Armailhac in the near future.

Back to the wine… 2000 Clerc Milon has a medium-deep colour and a bricking rim, looking slightly older than its age. The wine leaves thick legs on the glass. By the way, there is a common misconception that this is due to glycerine. However, I can remember a tasting tutored by the late Professor Emily Peynaud in which he said that this is incorrect: it is due to alcohol.

The nose is not very pronounced. It is a little dusty with subtle hints of raisins and black fruit jelly.

The wine is more interesting on the palate. It starts our round, then dips, and comes back with an assertive velvety tannic texture. It is warming, a little dry, and has a strong finish that even displays a little alcoholic hotness. The flavors include ethereal cherry-vanilla nuances and even some menthol/eucalyptus notes. The aftertaste is what makes this wine worthwhile. The textured tannin and grip also show that, although it has definitely entering its drinking window, it will stay on its plateau for a long time. In the galaxy of Médoc great growths this wine is middle of the road. But that’s still saying a great deal, and it is unquestionably a good, solid Pauillac.

Best regards,
Alex R.

[Claret]

I have been going thru my lesser 2000's, mostly Merlot based. I agree they are drinking well now.

My remaining Clerc Milon is from 2002.

[Roel]

2000 is in a good spot for me too. Love wines like Léo-Poy and Lascombes (old regime) which are open and inviting in their own way.

[Nicklasss]

This is what I wrote about the 2000 Château Clerc Milon, last August:

2000 Château Clerc Milon : after drinking the 2000 Château Lynch Bages with Jim not so long ago, I was expecting a lot from that bottle. Color was medium to dark red, with very nice classic austere Pauillac nose of cedar, blackberries, pencil, smoke, black prunes. The mouth was very very austere, a bit charmless. Yes, there is lot of tannins, with good dark berries and kind If charcoal flavors, the wine seems a bit light in mouth, for 2000. Also, taste of humus wood, with a medium final. 12.5 % alcohol. TN: 88.

For a bottle i kept all that time, a small deception.

I have preferred the 2002, opened at the same dinner.

Nic

[stefan]

2000 du Tertre, which we drank tonight, is wonderful. It has Margauxberries, concentration, and strong berry flavors laced with lavender. Du Tertre is one of the most underrated wines in Bordeaux. I hope it stays that way.