Vert de Vin Magazine

Decanter

A lovely sappy juicy wine, they have carefully controlled the extraction and it is less monolithic than many of the second wines this year. Still some astringency to the tannins, and a powerful punch of blackberry fruit that keeps up an excellent pace through the palate. Caroline Artaud began as technical director in July 2020, so halfway through this vintage, with Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy becoming head winemaker across at Mouton. To be partly sold en primeur this year for the first time (before it was just in bottle). 1% Carmanère completes the blend (and is all in the Pastourelle this year, except for the 0.6% of oldest vines). Yields 45hl/ha.

Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate brightening of the edges. Fresh red forest berries, a hint of cherries, delicately smoky, nuances of nougat. Juicy, fine fruity sweetness, subtle herbal spiciness, integrated tannins, a touch of chocolate in the finish, a versatile accompaniment to dishes.

James Suckling

A juicy red with blackberry and floral character. Some spice, too. It’s full and layered with lots of savory and bright-fruit character at the end. Pure berries. Second wine.

Jeb Dunnuck

Including plenty of Merlot (51% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Carmenère), the 2020 Pastourelle De Clerc Milon is a broader, more expansive beauty that is loaded with notions of black cherries, currants, chocolaty herbs, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied, plush, and round on the palate, it's a mouth-filling, already impossible to resist Pauillac to drink over the coming 10-15 years.

Anthocyanes Yohan Castaing