“Dark fruits still as ‘al dente’ as ever, with notes of blueberry, blackcurrant, and a hint of smokiness, along with a touch of graphite. Noble spices are also present. The finish is long, with crispness and crystalline structure, precise and smooth tannins—almost savory—and a finesse of the highest order. One of the greatest wines of recent years. Superb. One of the standout wines of the vintage.” (Anthocyanes 2020)
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Eye
Deep color with purple highlights
Nose
A rich, full-bodied bouquet with notes of spices, licorice, and mint
Palate
A rich, full-bodied attack. The mid-palate is fresh and velvety, revealing peppery notes. It is flavorful and harmonious. The finish is very well-balanced with remarkable length.
Serve
At 16-18°C
Open
1 hour before
Drink from
2025
Drink before
2045
Food and wine pairings
Pair with red meat, game, or aged cheeses
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated estate (2016 guide): 3 stars (High-quality production, setting the standard in its sector)
About the estate:
Along with Armailhac, this is the other Fifth Growth of the Rothschild (Mouton) family. Long overshadowed by its elder sibling, Mouton, and somewhat lacking in character, it has regained its identity since the 2000s thanks to more rigorous and tailored management. A new, highly original winery—built entirely of wood in accordance with strict environmental specifications—now allows this superb Pauillac fifth growth to be vinified and aged under optimal conditions. Its terroir is clayier than that of the Mouton plateau, lending greater richness of expression to the Merlot grape, which is used here in a higher proportion.
Decanter
Wine rated (2020 guide) 96/100
About the wine:
This is an exceptionally successful Clerc Milon from a series of great vintages at the estate. Beautiful purity, bold, well-defined tannins, and genuine balance and structure. Lingering, succulent, and bursting with blackcurrant, licorice, and crushed mint. Truly impressive and has great aging potential.
Guide Hachette des vins
Rated estate (2016 guide) Award-winning wines (This producer’s wines are regularly recognized by the guide)
About the estate:
Formerly owned by Lafite, this classified growth was acquired during the French Revolution by the Clerc family, who added the name of a hamlet in Pauillac to their own, and later by Baron Philippe de Rothschild in 1970. Located between Mouton and Lafite, in the northeastern part of the appellation, it boasts a 41-hectare vineyard situated on prime terroir (primarily the Mousset hill overlooking the Gironde) and a new winery completed in 2011.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Estate rated "Recommended" (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
About the estate:
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2022 guide) 95/100
Rated estate (2016 guide) 1*Star (Up-and-coming stars or quality winemakers producing wines of a high standard—you won’t be disappointed when tasting the wines from these estates)
About the wine:
The 2018 vintage, which we had the opportunity to taste, once again confirms its status as a great success; it combines rich fruit with lovely structure and precision in its tannic framework. It will age very well, without a doubt.
About the estate:
This château is part of the Rothschild (Mouton) portfolio. It is always fascinating to compare it to its sibling, Armailhac. Vinified by the same team, the second wine embraces a classic style, with a significant proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in its blend, while the first wine relies on a higher proportion of Merlot. After a period of ups and downs, the wine has returned to its best form, with better-defined concentration and velvety texture. The recent construction of a fermentation vat and a wine cellar has allowed it to go even further.
James Suckling
Wine rated (2021 guide) 95/100
About the wine:
Aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco, graphite, cloves, and dried leaves. It is medium-bodied with firm, tight tannins. Structured and compact with a long, mineral finish. Tight and austere. Very nice structure here.
Yves Beck
Wine rated (2020 guide) 94/100
About the wine:
A dense garnet red. This bouquet perfectly captures the elegance and character of Pauillac! Notes of black berries and licorice, followed by a hint of graphite. Lively and juicy on the palate, where the wine not only has body—thanks to powerful, tight tannins—but also structure, thanks to the tension of its acidic framework. The tannins stand out for their ability to unfold slowly across the palate. Alongside its power, the wine possesses an elegant profile, a beautiful sense of quiet strength. Finally, the aromatic expression comes through just as clearly as on the nose, perfectly supporting the finish, which is fruity and lingering.
Vert de Vin
Wine rated (2021 guide) 94-95/100 (Jonathan Choukroun Chicheportiche)
About the wine:
The nose is elegant and refined, offering a lovely finesse of texture, power (yet well-controlled), concentration, as well as delicacy and subtlety. It features notes of vibrant blackberry, juicy Gariguette strawberry, and, more subtly, vibrant blackcurrant, combined with hints of cardamom, earthiness, violet, ripe and pulpy dark berries, as well as subtle notes of tobacco, spices, and a hint of cubeb pepper. The palate is fruity, balanced, and beautifully delicate, displaying masterful control and elegance, offering smoothness, minerality, well-balanced concentration, fullness, freshness, good structure, and a lovely delicate, velvety texture with a delightful richness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy, vibrant blackberry, crushed blackcurrant, and, more subtly, pulpy, juicy strawberry, combined with hints of crushed raspberry, pulpy purple plum, and chocolate, as well as hints of cardamom, tobacco, subtle notes of bergamot, toasted hazelnut, and subtle hints of toasted/caramelized oak. The tannins are precise and elegant. A very lovely, smooth, and indulgent finish.
Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing
Wine rated (2020 guide) 96/100
About the wine:
Dark fruits remain as "al dente" as ever, with notes of blueberry, blackcurrant, and a hint of smokiness, along with a touch of graphite. Noble spices are also present. The finish is long, crisp, and crystalline in structure, with precise, smooth tannins—almost savory—and a finesse of the highest order. One of the greatest wines of recent years. Superb. One of the standout wines of the vintage.
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