The great Château Pape Clément wine arises from one of Bordeaux's oldest estates and its name has become a real icon of this great region and of French wine in general. It's also an excellent ambassador for Pessac-Léognan: elegant like few and accessible as almost none other. It features among the wines with the best price-quality ratio when we compare it with other Bordeaux Grand Crus and take into account its constancy and prestige throughout so many years.
It's made with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in almost equal amounts, with rather more Cabernet in some vintages. From the 2011 vintage, the use of new barrels for ageing has been reducing (to 70% of new oak today) so as to adapt to modern times, ever more reflecting the true character of the fruit and terroir. In the glass, it's a ruby red wine in colour and fairly dense, with a typical Pessac wine nose: fruits, flowers, spices and the unmistakable smoky notes, of tobacco aromas and further nuances of leather and burnt wood on the palate, roasted notes. On the palate, fine work of great precision, a fusion of sumptuousness and refinement.
Wine critics reviewsReviews by Parker, Jancis Robinson, and Suckling
The 2018 Pape Clement is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, aged for approximately 18 months in oak barriques, 60% new. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it rolls out of the glass with vibrant notes of crushed black cherries, stewed black plums and black raspberries, followed by suggestions of violets, star anise, cardamom and camphor with a waft of iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers exhilarating energy, offering crunchy black berry and exotic spice layers with a solid frame of ripe, grainy tannins and loads of freshness, finishing long and mineral tinged. Still very primary, it will need a good 5 years in bottle to deliver that next-level experience and will drink over the next 30+ years.
Aromas of wild blackberries, blueberries, dried lavender, cloves and eucalyptus with gravel and cocoa butter. It’s full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins. Polished and creamy with a core of ripe fruit that evolves to herbs, spices and chocolate. Fantastic concentration and seamless integration. Try from 2024.
— James Suckling (03/03/2021)JamesSuckling.com Vintage 2018 - 97 SUCKLING
Customer reviews
4.5/5
4 reviews
Vintage:
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by: PE Harju (24/11/2017) - Vintage 2015
0
This is a rising star
Pape Clement is really improving and at the moment in price/quality comparison one of the best wines in Bordeaux. Highly recommended!
by: CMG (26/04/2017) - Vintage 2012
0
Excelente
Excelente. Distinto a todo lo que he probado hasta ahora.
Merece la pena probarlo e, incluso, repetir... Muy recomendable. Excelente
by: Jesús Muñoz (18/08/2017) - Vintage 2012
0
Sutileza y elegancia
Un vino sutil y elegante, con un fondo tánico perfectamente integrado en el paladar y sin llevar a mucha madera.
by: F.Javier (10/05/2017) - Vintage 2012
0
vino interesante
es un buen vino aunque un poco caro si lo comparamos con determinados vinos españoles de cierto nivel de calidad.
Vineyards
Climate
Continental
The winery
Château Pape Clément
Château Pape Clément is one of the famous, ancient Bordeaux vineyards. The earliest harvests date back to 1252, although it was Bertrand de Goth who really started proceedings at the château. After being appointed archbishop of Bordeaux in 1299 and receiving the vineyards of La Mothe in Pessac as a gift, he gradually enlarged the estate. When he was elected to succeed Pope Benedict XI in 1305, he chose to be called Clément V, which is the derivation of the château's name.
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