Château Clerc-Milon: Vineyards
Although I have discussed the location of Château Clerc-Milon in relation to Pauillac and to Mousset, where the new cellars have been built, I have not so far pointed you towards Milon, the village that gave its name to the Clerc-Milon estate (as well as other notable properties, the aforementioned Château Duhart-Milon, and the lesser known Château Haut-Milon for example). This little village is situated a little way to the west of Mousset and Château Clerc-Milon, closer to Château Lafite-Rothschild, at the northern edge of the Pauillac appellation.
This helps to illustrate the rather curious migratory history of Clerc-Milon, as although this village gave the property half of its name, the vineyards are today located to the east, nearer the Gironde. Looking back to when the property was acquired by Baron Philippe in 1970, the 16-or-so hectares that came into his possession were dotted here and there, including parcels scattered around Milon and other northern corners of the Pauillac appellation. As he reconstituted and expanded the vineyard – through purchases and parcel exchanges – he focused on land towards the east, closer to the water. As a consequence today the majority of the Clerc-Milon vineyard is situated to the east of the D2, on the Mousset crest, overlooking the Gironde.
At the time of my most recent update there were 41 hectares in full production, a figure that has changed very little over the past one or two decades. The easiest parcel to locate is situated just in front of the cellars, as viewed from the D2, about 2 hectares, the smallest of three major parcels. It is not all the vines here though, just those running in rows up and down the slope, above the understated gateposts which mark the entrance to the estate. Those running in rows along the slope belong to a neighbour.
