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. — 2 days ago

David Monaghan

9.7

Oh god... this has it all, Mono happy, Baroness happy and new to the Bacchus family.. this is the furthest thing from la la land.. this is liquid heaven, this is liquid joy.. this is the vino we will consume when we meet my dear Bacchus.. please rename it MONO HEAVEN — 8 years ago

with Baroness

David Monaghan

9.5

This is a cracker. I'm having it with fish and it's only adding to the meal..Bacchus the flavours are leaping across my palate testing every sensory tip... Juve beat Barca the other night and this is another victory for Italia... let's hope the baroness is feeling like a Roman battle later... — 9 years ago

with Baroness

Юрий Халиф

9.7

Отличное сухое вино в сегменте эконом. — 11 years ago

David Monaghan

9.0

This reminds me of my youth. Great body, full of flavour, enjoyable, desirable, killer looks and popular with the Baroness... I had given up on the Aussies but this brings them back into the wine cellar... Bacchus pack up the boat we are heading to Adelaide to try out some more.... Great with any beef dish — 11 years ago

with Baroness

David Monaghan

8.9

I rated this purely as a Pinot... Horatio himself would have given the other arm to sample this.. It is full of spice, light and has the most beautiful colour.. I imagine a juice island with lakes, woodland and waterfalls with this Pinot poring from the rocks. It is a lovely simple blend which can be consumed at any stage- post breakfast obviously. The baroness is a pure Pinot girl.. She left me asleep on the sofa and brought her new friend Nelson to her sleeping quarters- this is her new love.Bacchus this may
not make your cellar but as the wine god I instruct you to brush your teeth with this juice.... Their famous rugby team should be renamed the All Pinos as that is what NZ is great for.@Delectablewine Delectablewine — 11 years ago

with Baroness

Jack Petras

9.2

Not called Baroness anymore this mid level HB 2025 vintage is exploding out of the glass. Took a minute to get my bearings instead of restraint and editing it’s a full out cabaret of a wine with lively melon gooseberries and passion fruit on an edgy substrate of salinity and limestone. Went incredibly well with prosciutto and honeydew. Once I adjusted I found it magnificent. — 5 months ago

k

9.5

Rich dark fruit with smooth tannic full body. — 4 years ago

Eva Harvard

8.9

Smooth Chardonnay — 8 years ago

David Monaghan

9.3

I have a slight cold but still appreciated this tastes bomb... merlot isn’t high on my list but this is a fun vino which I will have again... the biggest surprise was the Baroness snr gave it to us.. — 9 years ago

with Baroness

Mike Byland

9.2

Nice blend — 11 years ago

David Monaghan

10

This is water.. The Baroness has benched me no juice for three weeks.. The water was lovely ZZZZZ.. However the baroness and Baroness senior enjoyed a lovely Bordeaux superior.... I'll be back and by Bacchus I will return with juice vengeance .... — 11 years ago

with Baroness

David Monaghan

10

This came directly from the loins of Bacchus... It is superb. I can't do it justice.. Buy it; pour it; enjoy it then juice it... This is my new love, the Baroness has been shoved from 4th to 5th...@Delectablewine Delectablewine — 11 years ago

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David Monaghan

9.0

The Beatles wrote " when you get to bottom and go back to the top " this sums up my recent consumption.. The baroness and I disagree about this Italian Stallion, so much so I'm in the spare room - otherwise known as the lager lounge.. This beauty has brought me back to the top, I feel closer to Bacchus.. It explodes like popping candy with an array of flavour which go for beyond my Neanderthal tongue... It's smooth but challenging. The local priest is due for a visit I will ask him to bless the case I intend to buy tomorrow.. Long live Italian grapes@Delectablewine Delectablewine — 11 years ago

with Baroness

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Welcome to Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025.

2012 in Bordeaux is a great memory as Sofia & I had a great 5 year anniversary trip to Italy where we were married, ending in Bordeaux. Picking Mouton Merlot for a day, lunch with the Baroness, having steak and sipping 82 Mouton. Pinch me is what I said to Sofia.

Saint Julien is the elegant region on the Left Bank. While 2012 was an ok to good vintage it will always be packed with great memories.

Branaire-Ducru in grand vintages is still a great value. Always elegant with this kind of bottle age and more.

Hour decant starting notes.

Tonight smooth, ripe, round, juicy; brambly blackberries/black raspberries, dark cherries, cherries, black plum, some strawberries, raspberries with blueberry tones. Dry tobacco with ash, leather, spice box with some heat, lightly grilled meats, volcanics, moist clay, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, light vanillin, mid berry cola, dark chocolate bar, forest floor with leaves, sandalwood, steeped black tea, bay leaf, dry thyme, mocha powder, dry caramel, crush, dry rock/limestone, dry river stone, bright red flowers mixed with dark withering flowers, nice round acidity and a balanced, smartly tensioned, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds & lands on herbs & earth. — a year ago

David Monaghan

8.9

The Baroness sister presented this and we loved it.. colour, aroma lit up the room. The flavours offered a superb experience, woody without being oaky, fruits but not fruity... as we say in these parts.... RELOAD — 8 years ago

with Baroness

David Monaghan

9.6

Light and bright.. superb with pizza.. Baroness very happy as I am... outside of football the Italians aren’t known for light.. this lad offers a maldini from with-a spark of flavours which can only be rivalled by the great ac Milan team of the 90s.. a mix which delivers happiness — 9 years ago

with Baroness

David Monaghan

8.9

A baroness value selection... Top marks for value and not a bad bit of juice... Nice and light with narrowed flavours... This is a great bottle for a communion.. The family and friends will be impressed, you can drinks lots of it and still count the communion money...in saying all of this its a very good summer wine — 10 years ago

with Baroness

Nick Fingleton

9.7

Made me think of the baron and baroness and wishing them a happy Christmas and a great 2016! @David Monaghan @Baroness Catherine Monaghan — 11 years ago

with Baroness and David

David Monaghan

9.0

This is the Italian stallion I have been waiting for... This is like a feather weight boxer, appears light but then boom it hits you.. The baroness and I had so much of this juice we even danced together for the first time since our wedding day... It's a bush of berries with a complex flavour plate which frolicked across the taste dance floor like a ballerina... Have it with roast beef... Butchers of the world forget about selling horseradish and beef gravy... Sell this and your beef sales will soar.... Bacchus this is going in the box for when we meet.... You bring the beef — 11 years ago

with Baroness