Man, the 2014 Clerc Milon is soooo good, jckba....

[JimHow]

Decided to take a little respite from my fasting and dieting in the past month, in preparation for my big trial starting a week from Monday. I bought like almost three cases of this stuff on JC's recommendation a few years ago, when New Hampshire was selling 2014s at near-ridiculous prices. I got these for like under $35, even lower when you factored in all the gift cards on top of the 15% discounts, on top of the already low tax- and shipment-cost free prices. Ah, the Granite State. Live free or Die. This wine is a stunning Pauillac. It is made the way they used to be. Oh wait, that's Maine's motto: "The way Life Should Be." But, okay, it applies to the 2014 Clerc Milon: "The way Pauillac Should Be." Absolutely everything you look for in Pauillac: Structure combined with class and finesse. Cassis, blackberries, cedar. Number two pencil, it has the best of both Mouton AND, dare I say it, Lafite. This wine is still, obviously, young -- although, I recall Parker -- and Suckling to this day -- oftentimes opening up the window on wines like this as soon as six or seven years after the vintage, post hibernation period. The brilliant purple/ruby Pauillac color shows NO signs of lightening, NO receding at the rim, no tell tale bloodstains at the crime scene.... But I digress. I don't read the wine magazines anymore but when is someone out there going to finally start SCREAMING about the greatness of the 2014 vintage, on BOTH sides of the river. This wine, this vintage, is outstanding. The wine is enjoyable now and will age easily for at least another thirty years, because of its impeccable balance. I'll be drinking this wine in the Great Tasting Room in the Sky with the Great Stefan, who I knew well. A brilliant, classic, classic, effort. Thank you, JC, my BWE brother, for calling my attention to this beauty. Wow! Rating: 96 points.

[Gerry M.]

I saw your note on CT and left this comment, "Dammit Jim, I only have 9 bottle of this. How can I stretch it out to maturity if you write notes like this? Now it sells for twice the price, lol. We've had this conversation before, we will look back on 2014 as the most misunderstood vintage of recent history."

I've learned that to get great pricing in NH patience is required. Many wines are grossly over priced and it's a waiting game for them to have a knee-jerk reaction and drop their pants in a panic. If they only properly priced their wines in the first place they would make out better in the end.

[JimHow]

Ha I was just trying to respond to you, Gerry, but I don't know how.
Man, we cleaned up on the 2014s when they went on sale.
You are absolutely right, with the proper focus, there are great deals to be had in NH.
But you have to be vigilant.
Waiting patiently for the next 15% off sale!

[OrlandoRobert]

Damn Jimbo you are killing me, I just googled it and it’s over 80 bucks nowadays, LOL

[JimHow]

This is an Orlando Robert kind of wine….

[Blanquito]

Great note, BD.

I just had the 05 Clerc last Friday, and it was really good too (93-94 pts). Classic and (to my mind) surprisingly open for business. In the mythical Howquito zone.

[JimHow]

Wow! an '05 in the mythical Howquito zone!
I almost pulled an '05 d'Issan, it is time to try one.

[OrlandoRobert]

This is an Orlando Robert kind of wine….

Your note slays, I’m buying it. I’m not sure how I missed it originally.

My wife and I did our honeymoon in Bordeaux many many moons ago. We did the Mouton tour, and at the end of the tour, they poured very healthy glasses of all three Estates. Those were the days!

[JimHow]

It’s just so wonderfully stern, the finish gets to the back of your taste buds and lingers on. It says 13.5 but it feels like a good old fashioned 12.5.

[Blanquito]

Had to read this note again, wow. And it got me wondering, is tje Clerc better than the brilliant 2014 Calon Segur? I ask because that Calon you opened in SanFran for us, Jim, is my benchmark 2014 and the best young Calon I’ve ever had.

[Comte Flaneur]

Gosh really missed the boat on that one.

How is 2014 d’Armailhac? It is about half the price of the Clerc Milon here, which now works out at over £70 a bottle…

[JimHow]

I’ve had the d’Armailhac several times as well Ian. It is a bit more medium bodied but likewise outstanding. Pauillac/St. Julien was the sweet spot in an overall outstanding classic vintage on both banks of the river. Even GPL realized its terroir in 2014.

[Comte Flaneur]

I have GPL. I made a concerted effort to increase the share of 14s in my Bordeaux portfolio and it is now up to 3.1%, still probably not high enough probably - 2016 is 7.8%, 2010 is 7.0% and 1996 is 7.5%. I will go for d’Armailhac I think and rely on the future generosity of BWErs to ply me with 2014 Clerc Milon.

[Racer Chris]

2014 is 23% of my cellar, including some GPL. But alas, no Clerc Milon here either.

[Nicklasss]

Very nice note Jim. I always liked past vintage of Clerc, but since a few years, it is like the wine improved while keeping it strong Pauillac character.

We never had many 2014 offered here, and i still don't understand why. The 2014 Domaine de Chevalier is a strong wine too.

I'm really happy to have some 2016 Clerc Milon, when i read your note about 2014.

[OrlandoRobert]

Gosh really missed the boat on that one.

How is 2014 d’Armailhac? It is about half the price of the Clerc Milon here, which now works out at over £70 a bottle…

Just checked pricing on this one as well, Damn even it is up in the $80 range! I seem to recall this coming out at around $30 in futures. I need to check whether I bought any, I just cannot recall right now. I did snag a case of the 2012 and close out for $20 a bottle. That was like my score of the year back then.

[AKR]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125236461011390855

Oh I how I long for these too!

In college we would get a van and drive up there to fill it up to the headliner with cheap beer before parties. We even kept our house soda machine partly filled with cold cans of beer from there. All these crazy cheapo brands (PBR back then, Old Milwaukee, Schlitz etc).

[robert goulet]

I never bit on C.Milon because I generally like d'armailhac slightly btr ...I've had the 2014 D'armailhac 2x and its good not great....maybe that changes over time

[JimHow]

You only think 2014 d'Armailhac is so-so, Bobby. Hmmm. Okay, interesting.

[robert goulet]

Small sample size but I'm yet to be seduced by any '14 '15 or '16

[robert goulet]

Ive liked '05 (left) better than any of these recent vintages

[OrlandoRobert]

Small sample size but I'm yet to be seduced by any '14 '15 or '16

Knowing your palate, I think you will come around to 14 and 16. These are excellent vintages. You just happen to really prefer mature wines, and like me, also like some funk. I think the days of funk are gone, my friend. Appreciate these vintages for what they now offer, high quality fruit and good structure (acid and tannins). Skip 2015.

[OrlandoRobert]

Ive liked '05 (left) better than any of these recent vintages

Hard to compare these three vintages, better to do it in a wine-by-wine basis. I prefer 16 to 05, generally. I prefer 14 to 16 and 05, but for reasons that I find the wines more balance and classic, which is not necessarily “better”. The 05 vintage is so massively tannic that I’m not even touching the big boys for another 10. I’ll be enjoying the 14s before that!

[Blanquito]

It’s been a while but I found the 05 d’Armailhac quite impressive around 5 years ago. Based on the recent showing of the 05 Clerc, I bet the 05 d’Armailhac is worth trying again now.

[Comte Flaneur]

I am participating in a 2005 tasting dinner next Thursday, which I am greatly looking forward to, though today I am recovering from a 2010 Barolo dinner. This is our 2005 line up, no big boys yet, but it should be interesting:

Krug 168

Haut-Medoc flight
Poujeaux
La Lagune

Right bank flight
Roc De Cambes
Beauregard

Margaux flight
Du Tertre
Brane Cantenac

St Julien flight
Beychevelle
Gruaud-Larose

Pauillac flight
Batailley
GPL

Sauternes
Rieussec

[Chateau Vin]

.................I am recovering from a 2010 Barolo dinner.
.
.
.

Thanks Comte. Curious to know your take on 2010 Barolo how they are faring at 10...

[robert goulet]

Ive liked '05 (left) better than any of these recent vintages

Hard to compare these three vintages, better to do it in a wine-by-wine basis. I prefer 16 to 05, generally. I prefer 14 to 16 and 05, but for reasons that I find the wines more balance and classic, which is not necessarily “better”. The 05 vintage is so massively tannic that I’m not even touching the big boys for another 10. I’ll be enjoying the 14s before that!

Man I don't remember 2005 being overly tannic...yes I did notice it in a few wines....but nothing like the '10 structure

[OrlandoRobert]

Ive liked '05 (left) better than any of these recent vintages

Hard to compare these three vintages, better to do it in a wine-by-wine basis. I prefer 16 to 05, generally. I prefer 14 to 16 and 05, but for reasons that I find the wines more balance and classic, which is not necessarily “better”. The 05 vintage is so massively tannic that I’m not even touching the big boys for another 10. I’ll be enjoying the 14s before that!

Man I don't remember 2005 being overly tannic...yes I did notice it in a few wines....but nothing like the '10 structure

I think a lot of the big boy 2005s are massively tannic, I think 2010 is on par with the tannin level, but also much higher in alcohol. I think 2010 is a challenging vintage, frankly.

[DavidG]

I agree with OrlandoRobert on 2005/2010 being tannic.

All this 2014 love is tempting me to pop one but the few I’m holding are all probably way too young and shut down. Has anyone here had a recent bottle of any of these 2014s? Too soon?
Gruaud
Pichon Baron
Talbot
Trotanoy
VCC

[Blanquito]

2005 may not live up to the initial hype, even on the left bank, but I still think it is a great year if you avoid the modern producers (which are over-extracted, etc). For the Left Bank, my feeling is it’s the best year between 2000-2016 (with an honorable mention to 2014). I can’t think of another vintage with that much tannin but which are so comparatively fleshy and glycerin infused.

2009 is a wild card, where the highs are very high indeed IMHO. How they age will be important though - if some of the more flamboyant wines integrate and balance out in the cellar, 09 could be special across the Medoc.

I pretty much avoided 2010, so little firsthand experience but it never sounded like my kinda vintage.

[Racer Chris]

I agree with OrlandoRobert on 2005/2010 being tannic.

All this 2014 love is tempting me to pop one but the few I’m holding are all probably way too young and shut down. Has anyone here had a recent bottle of any of these 2014s? Too soon?
Gruaud
Pichon Baron
Talbot
Trotanoy
VCC

Of those I would say Talbot is probably very drinkable now.

[Ianjaig]

I am participating in a 2005 tasting dinner next Thursday, which I am greatly looking forward to, though today I am recovering from a 2010 Barolo dinner. This is our 2005 line up, no big boys yet, but it should be interesting:

Poujeaux

I had a couple of 05 Poujeaux over the last few years (the last one in 2019) and I thought they were beautiful. Very classical in style. Enjoy the tasting.

[OrlandoRobert]

I agree with OrlandoRobert on 2005/2010 being tannic.

All this 2014 love is tempting me to pop one but the few I’m holding are all probably way too young and shut down. Has anyone here had a recent bottle of any of these 2014s? Too soon?
Gruaud
Pichon Baron
Talbot
Trotanoy
VCC

I would not touch these, David.

I popped a VCC only fir the sake of science, and I had a case, leave them be. They need 15.

[marcs]

Hard to compare these three vintages, better to do it in a wine-by-wine basis. I prefer 16 to 05, generally. I prefer 14 to 16 and 05, but for reasons that I find the wines more balance and classic, which is not necessarily “better”. The 05 vintage is so massively tannic that I’m not even touching the big boys for another 10. I’ll be enjoying the 14s before that!

Man I don't remember 2005 being overly tannic...yes I did notice it in a few wines....but nothing like the '10 structure

I think a lot of the big boy 2005s are massively tannic, I think 2010 is on par with the tannin level, but also much higher in alcohol. I think 2010 is a challenging vintage, frankly.

Agree that 2010 is problematic. Really so on the right bank but some on the left too. An overrated vintage to some degree I think. One of the several experiences that has made me massively upgrade Gruaud Larose in my personal rankings was tasting their 2010 and finding it expressing vintage character (deep black coffee notes, strong structure) while at the same time being supple, expressive, balanced, and accessible - hard to do!

Can I just say that this Clerc-Milon note yet again demonstrates how Jim is the most enthusiastic Bordeaux wine enthusiast of all? A seven year old classed growth hasn’t lost its color and is still purple to the rim? INCREDIBLE! Personally, I had a crappy 2000 and 2001 Clerc Milton early in my wine career and never saw reason to touch them since....you can’t try everything

I think the 2014s may take longer to really come around than people think. I have a lot (Ducru, PLL and Baron, Cos, Conseillante, etc.) and I’m going to wait on most till 2029. GPL, which was a subtle red-fruited delicate marvel early on, and possibly Conseillante might be exceptions, those I’m trying in say 2025

[jal]

INCREDIBLE! Personally, I had a crappy 2000 and 2001 Clerc Milton early in my wine career and never saw reason to touch them since....you can’t try everything

Yup, I agree.
A few early mediocre Clerc Milon and a few early mediocre d'Armailhac for me as well. I havent bought any of these. I usually stick to the wines I know I'll love.

[Musigny 151]

I agree with OrlandoRobert on 2005/2010 being tannic.

All this 2014 love is tempting me to pop one but the few I’m holding are all probably way too young and shut down. Has anyone here had a recent bottle of any of these 2014s? Too soon?
Gruaud
Pichon Baron
Talbot
Trotanoy
VCC

I would not touch these, David.

I popped a VCC only fir the sake of science, and I had a case, leave them be. They need 15.

I had several bottles that were fairly open. It then closed hard and abruptly. I managed to coax something after a couple of hours in the decanter, but it needs several years to loosen up. I remain convinced that is a truly great wine, and well worth the wait.

[DavidG]

Chris, Robert, Mark - thanks for the input. I’ll keep my mitts off.

Jim, gotta agree with Marcus that you are really leading by example with your BWEnthusiasm!

[jckba]

Jim - while I (a) don’t quite have the stash that you accumulated nor (b) did I get that kind of bargain basement pricing as I paid $53.97/per + tax at TW, but, perhaps it is time to check in on another bottle after your glowing review. And while I think everyone can enjoy a Pichon or a Leoville in any given vintage, the name of the game is finding the over performing value oriented wines in whichever region you roam. I am glad that you are thoroughly enjoying the 2014 Clerc and look forward to sharing a glass in the not to distant future.