2015 Pastourelle de Clerc Milon

The 2015 Pastourelle de Clerc Milon is a gorgeous second wine from Clerc-Milon. Forward and supple, the 2015 fleshes out in the glass with lovely density and volume. Ripe plum, blueberry, menthol and spice notes give the 2015 much of its seductive personality. Clerc-Milon releases the Pastourelle with some bottle age, when it is ready to drink, with the goal of arriving at a wine list in $100/bottle range. The 2015 is flat-out delicious. The blend is 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.

Composed of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Pastourelle de Clerc Milon is a second wine of Clerc Milon, representing an earlier drinking style designed specifically for the on-trade. It is usually released a bit later (after two to three years’ aging) by the Chateau in order to be consumed upon release. Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Pastourelle de Clerc Milon features an open-knit, earthy/meaty nose of damp soil, smoked meats and new leather with a core of warm red currants and blackberries plus a touch of garrigue. Medium-bodied, it reveals plenty of savory layers with a chewy frame and lively lift to the finish.

The second wine of Clerc Milon is the 2015 Pastourelle De Clerc Milon, which is made from equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with 10% Cabernet Franc. This forward, front end-loaded beauty offers up excellent notes of cassis and blackcurrants as well as lots of spice and licorice, medium-bodied depth and richness, and sweet tannin. It’s already hard to resist yet should keep for at least a decade.