Château Clerc Milon

Identity

Château Clerc Milon, a 5e Grand Cru Classé in 1855, is located in the commune of Pauillac. It is managed by Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, chaired by Philippe Sereys de Rothschild. Current management is led by Camille and Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, along with Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild. Caroline Artaud is the estate director, while Frédéric Faure is the Maître de chai and Richard Martin the Chef de culture. The chief oenologist is Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy.

History and Philosophy

Château Clerc Milon was acquired by the Clerc family in 1789, with Jean-Baptiste Clerc becoming its owner after the Revolution. In 1970, Baron Philippe de Rothschild acquired the estate. At that time, the vineyard area covered 16.5 hectares. The estate undertook extensive renovations of its technical facilities in 2007. A new cellar, designed by architect Bernard Mazières and scenographer Richard Peduzzi, was inaugurated in 2011. In 2016, the Prix Clerc Milon de la Danse was established. Château Clerc Milon is committed to sustainable viticulture certified Haute Qualité Environnementale (HVE).

Appellations

Château Clerc Milon produces wines under the Pauillac appellation.

Key Wines

Château Clerc Milon is the estate's flagship wine. The blend of the grand vin varies according to the vintage; for example, the 1995 vintage was made of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Franc, whereas the 2019 vintage featured 72% Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate's second wine is named La Pastourelle de Clerc Milon.

Winemaking and Ageing

The wines are typically aged for 18 months, using 50% new oak barrels.

Practical Information

Château Clerc Milon is located at Lieu-dit Mousset, 33250 Pauillac. Visits are available by appointment. On-site sales are available at the property. For all enquiries, the estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)5 56 41 43 43 or by email at visites@bphr.com.

Find out more

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The Château Clerc Milon vineyard covers a total area of 41 hectares. It is situated on a terrace of gravel and wind-blown sand resting on a clay-limestone bedrock, overlooking the Gironde estuary. The plots predominantly benefit from a south/south-eastern exposure. The soils consist of sandy gravel and clay-limestone, with deep gravel mounds. The vineyard comprises approximately 200 plots, grouped into 8 distinct soil sectors. The average vine age is 47 years, with plantings dating back to the early 20th century and 15 hectares planted before 1950. The estate has its own in-house nursery within Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA. Harvesting is carried out by hand. The grape varieties comprise Cabernet-Sauvignon (57%), Merlot (33%), Cabernet Franc (7%), Petit Verdot (1%), and Carménère (2%). A plot of Carménère planted in 1947 is the oldest varietal plot on the estate, and replanting of Carménère was carried out in 2017. The long-term target for Merlot is between 20 and 25% of the vineyard.