Chateau Clerc Milon Rothschild 2012

WEINWISSER: WEINWISSER:"Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Herrliches Cassisbouquet, dezent rauchige Cabernet-Würze zeigend, im Untergrund ganz feiner Trüffelschimmer, sehr ansprechend. Im Gaumen absolut überzeugend, auch hier wieder von einem genialen Cabernet-Bild ausgehend, ausgeglichene Adstringenz mit noblen Tanninen, langes, erhabenes Finale. In diesem schwierigen Jahr eine Meisterleistung. So enttäuschend der DArmailhac aus gleichem Hause ist – so überraschend ist dieser gross ausgefallene Clerc-Milon."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: WINE ENTHUSIAST:"Now firmly in its new cellars, Clerc-Milon's wine is performing at the top of its form. This is a dense wine with juicy acidity as well as sweet tannins and ripe blackberry fruits. They give a ripe wine that is finely structured. The juicy aftertaste, typical of this vintage, is appealing although it does not detract from its power and longevity. Drink from 2022."

JAMES SUCKLING: JAMES SUCKLING:"Blueberry, chocolate and stone aromas with undertones of flowers follow through to a full body, cream tannins and a clean finish. Concentrated for the vintage. Pure fruit. Needs three to four years to soften. Better in 2017."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: THE WINEADVOCATE:"This is another strong effort from the Mouton Rothschild stable and its excellent administrator Philippe Dhalluin. The 2012 Clerc Milon has an almost blackish-blue opaque color, soft tannins, ripe notes of blackcurrants, licorice and subtle background oak. There is an attractive floral, licorice quality to the fruit. The wine is medium to full-bodied and beautifully pure with ripe tannin. It is soft enough to be approachable in several years and should drink well for 20."

DECANTER: DECANTER:"Vibrant depth of colour, very good purity and expresion of fruit."

FALSTAFF: FALSTAFF:"Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Dunkle Beerenfrucht, feine schokoladige Nuancen, reife Herzkirschen, ein Hauch von kandierten Orangenzesten. Straff, frische Struktur, angenehme Extraktsüße, feine Tannine, etwas Nougat im Abgang, zeigt gute Länge, ein facettenreicher Speisenbegleiter."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Cedary nose. Very plump and exotic. Round fruit almost distracts from the tannins. A crowd-pleaser. Long."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER:"With a floral, cassis, earth, thyme and black cherry nose, this soft styled wine will deliver tasty, early drinking pleasure."

WINE SPECTATOR: WINESPECTATOR:"Tightly wound, but with an ample core of blackberry and black currant fruit waiting in reserve, accented by lively briar and singed spice notes. Reveals good, graphite-edged grip through the finish, with a hint of cassis bush at the very end. Should unwind nicely in the cellar. Best from 2017 through 2022."