Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is well beyond critical reviews young.

Sofia & I became friends with Jean D’Anjoy (photo to right). Winemaker who now runs all the Rothschild properties. He was the Assistant Winemaker at Opus One for 10 yrs. He had many offers to be a Napa Winemaker but refused. Had he, he would have been demeeded a Napa Winemaker when he wanted to always go back to Bordeaux as a Winemaker. Opus was fine as it is 1/2 French owed. He later became the the Clerc Milon Winemaker in 09. What a first vintage. He simultaneously built the new facilities at Clerc Milon. He is also perhaps the best & kindest human being I’ve ever met.

He arranged for Sofia & I to pick the Mouton Merlot and work all phases of the 2012 Clark Milon vintage. So, you might wanna not buy the 2012 vintage of Mouton & Clerc. 😂 He also arranged for us to sit at the Baroness’s table for the harvest luncheon where they poured the last of the filtered bottom of the barrels of 82 Mouton. I asked Sofia to pinch me. The Baroness sadly died two years later.

The nose is sweet and a touch sour; blackberries & black raspberries. Floral & slightly candied; dark and light cherries, juicy strawberries, raspberries and some circling baked rhubarb. Understated new oak barrel powder, beautiful baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla, dry leaves and twig, baking powder, fresh and dry herbs, lead pencil shavings, limestone, dark soils, dry pebbles, red, and dark florals set in liquid violets.

The palate shows medium plus well rounded, softened, resolved tannins. The fruit is ripe and juicy. Blackberries & black raspberries. Floral & slightly candied; dark and light cherries, juicy strawberries, raspberries and some circling baked rhubarb. Understated new oak barrel powder, beautiful baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla, dry leaves and twig, baking powder, mid, dark spices with a shade of heat, fresh and dry herbs, lead pencil shavings, moist to dry tobacco, used leather, limestone, dark soils, dry pebbles, red, and dark florals set in liquid violets, perfect acidity and a grand elegant, well balanced, integrated finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on spice & earth.

An elegant beauty if I ever had one. Has another 5-7 yr ahead depending on storage.

Photos of; the new facilities at Clerc Milon, Jean D’Anjoy and their vineyards, barrel room and tasting/entertaining lounge.

Delectable & IOS 27 isn’t a good fit today. — 12 days ago

Jack Petras

9.2

Had zero expectations for this wine at a party featuring lost bottles from your cellar. It was like a raspberry preserve that you canned 10 years ago and still has the essence of that years growing season. An unexpected joy. — 6 months ago

Anne Lebleu

9.5

Délicieux! — 7 months ago

romo

9.3

Some poopy bret blew off in 30 mins and revealed a sheer dress of leafy brown spice. Likely peaked at 15 years. — 9 months ago

Rodney Miller

9.5

Beautiful! Elegant with cherry and spices. Light in color and medium body. — a year ago

Jody Scharf

8.9

It's a drink now young cab... just ok — 3 years ago

Kat

9.5

Was surprised for a Bordeaux that it was so smooth and light. Very good! — 15 days ago

Douglas Braun

9.0

2018- Good time to drink- lemon custard, lemon oil, chalky/ stoniness , med/med plus acidity( maybe a little bit low) neutral oak ? - nice finish at 8 years old- but definitely glad I drank this now — 2 months ago

Emily O'Mara

9.5

An excellent example Cabernet from Rutherford. This is the 2021 vintage and it’s absolutely beautiful. — 5 months ago

Doug Powers

8.9

Similar notes to last bottle from October 2025, solid redfruits, but the 14.5% ABV is still front and center!! — 6 months ago

with Dave and Jim

Matthew Cohen

9.6

Wow. An insane wine.

Nose: sick elegant spice. Almost elegantly oily.

Palate: so dense. Candied pink grapefruit. Mineral. Expansive. Long. Saline. Juicy. Clingy.

Fass selections — 8 months ago

Zach D

9.4

Lemon yellow hue, moderately viscous. Aromas of white flowers, orchard fruit, hazelnut, marzipan. Orchard fruit, mixed nuts, marzipan, and a mineral edge on the palate. Oak seems mostly neutral. Nice texture. Nicely integrated acidity. Alcohol is not overpowering. A balanced wine, excellent. — a year ago

Delectable Wine

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9.2

One encounter with an ex-château bottle suggested that the 1966 Lynch-Bages is not to be overlooked. Deep in color, it has a tempting nose that unfolds gradually in the glass, graphite and cedar commingling with crushed stone and red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm entry, very cedary with touches of desiccated orange peel. It's a bit conservative on the finish, though that is a leitmotif of the 1966 vintage. Well-preserved bottles should still be giving pleasure. Tasted at the Lynch Bages vertical. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2023) — 3 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

A profoundly backward Jessie James that took a strange, winding path over several days. Initially reduced and giving maybe 10%, with matchstick, damson, sour and mid-season cherry, mineral and very little aromatic expression. The palate was completely discombobulated at first, but the material was obvious: beautiful velvety tannins, tiny-berry fruit intensity, tremendous depth and an extraordinarily long, persistent finish. After about ninety minutes it briefly opened into something spectacular, with deep, voluminous perfume, sweet and sour cherries, mossy minerality and exotic spice, the nose easily operating at a 9.7 level. Then it closed again, the tannins took over and both nose and palate retreated. Two days later it is much more composed, silky and elegant, with pure red fruit, sour cherry and beautifully refined tannins. Very good, serious and clearly built to age, but not at the level of the great 2021 or 2022 Jessie James. — 2 months ago

KP

9.0

Sweet-and-sour nose. Silky tenants that cook the tongue. Long delicious finish with only a hint of oak at the very end. I would buy again. — 2 months ago

Sam Friedland

8.9

This was Pastourelle Clerc Milon. Second label of Clerc Milon, was quite good with some fruit, and reasonable price — 5 months ago

Daniel Diaz

9.5

Nani and Poppi 2026 — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2015 vintage. Light-medium/medium body. Elegant with just the right mix of primary and secondary characteristics currently. Some earthy tones, some pretty tones. Picked up 3 cases for an affordable ($35 a btl) domestic Cab with a decade of age on it. 2013 effort (not reviewed) had a slightly, off-putting, prunish note on the finish that wouldn’t leave the party so passed on it and went with this instead. 3.11.26. — 7 months ago

Joe DAscoli

9.4

Solid wine. Comes across very fruity and smooth. Complexity and tannins are faded. Really nice fruit. Highly enjoyable with food or on its own. — 2 years ago

Daniel veit

9.2

Pretty darn close to old school Napa. — 3 years ago