Clerc Milon 2005

Ruby-red. Plum, currant, graphite, cedar and smoky, nutty oak on the nose. Big, round and spicy, with lovely mid-palate fat and sweetness to the enticing currant and coffee flavors. This has very good breadth, although Dhalluin finds it "vertical" today and feels it has suffered more from the recent fining than either d'Armailhac or Mouton. But there's excellent supporting material here for the wine's tannins.

Deep colour and fine leafy, fresh cassis fruit, fully ripe with good concentration with an attractive lift of coffee bean spice. Drink 2010-25.

Lifted, intense cassis, still very youthful. Beautifully refreshing glass of wine, decent length. Fruity, attractive, early drinking. Drink from 2013. Awarded 3 stars.

Came 39th out of 184 wines

Clerc-Milon’s 2005 has moved ahead of its stablemate, d’Armailhac. A blend of nearly equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon (48%) and Merlot (40%), and the rest Cabernet Franc, it exhibits plenty of charcoal, roasted coffee, smoke, blackberry, and cassis notes along with a meaty-like character to its flavors and texture. Full-bodied with surprisingly high tannin as well as gorgeous depth and a multidimensional mouthfeel, this stunning Pauillac should be at its finest between 2014-2030

Administrator Philippe Dalhuin has turned out an atypically structured, tannic, less approachable Clerc-Milon that has put on weight since last year and now rivals its stablemate, d’Armailhac. Powerful notes of forest floor, black currants, cherries, graphite, and pain grille emerge from this fresh yet exceptionally powerful, intense effort. It also possesses surprisingly high alcohol for this vintage (13.5%). The final blend was 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025+.

Medium to full-bodied, tannic, fresh, vibrant, and, as the French would say, croquant (crunchy), the 2005 deep ruby/purple-tinged Clerc-Milon reveals good acidity, a fresh, lively mouthfeel, surprisingly high alcohol (13.5%) that is at odds with the brightness/freshness found in the wine’s power and richness. The final blend was 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and a smidgen of Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2020.

Loads of violets, berries and currants with hints of mineral, light vanilla. Full-bodied, with very silky tannins and a long, long finish. Is it better than 2003? Wait and see.

Light to mid crimson. Lively, sprightly. Without the density of most 2005s but well balanced in a relatively low-key way. The tannins are - almost - hidden. 13%Drink 2022-2040

Very dark and very mineral on the nose. Then lots of sweetness on the front palate and finally a whack of still-dry tannins. Just a bit too dry and austere on the finish for a higher mark but this wine can certainly deliver pleasure

Deep, dark crimson - rather velvety-looking. Savoury, appetising notes on the nose. Silky, fine tannins, very well-handled oak. A rather St-Julien-style Pauillac. Very well mannered and gentle. Though not the limit of ambition. Much extended, renovated property which was especially successful in 2005. Drink 2015-27

Full ruby-red. Superripe, almost syrupy aromas of cassis, licorice, graphite and coffee. Full, seamless and sweet, with a ripeness verging on exotic; but this is fat with fruit. An outsized Clerc-Milon with a relatively high 13.2% alcohol but also very good energy in the mouth. Finishes with terrific breadth and substantial ripe tannins. "This was very restrained in the barrel but is really opening up in bottle," noted Dhalluin. A superb showing today.