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2016 CHÂTEAU PAPE CLEMENT Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan, Lea & Sandeman

CHÂTEAU PAPE CLEMENT

2019 Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan

Grapes Merlot, Cab Sauv
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Village Pessac-Léognan
Classification Cru Classé
ABV 13%

Immediately impressive. Dark and glossy fruit - but nice feel and some good drive. Surprised by quite how pretty this feels. Sweet middle of ripe dark fruit, but super feel and gentle dusty tannins give shape and fresh push. Quite sophisticated. 50% Merlot is deeply aromatic, with good power and intensity. the 50% Cabernet adds some tension and grip and that gently rounded structure and some finesse.

Jeanne Lacombe, Pape Clement's technical director talked us through the vintage explaining that, yes it was warm here in 2019, but that from the 21st September things cooled down significantly and got wetter, phew! - This really helped with the finishing of the grapes' ripening and stopped the extreme ripeness that was inevitable if things had continued as they were.

In the cellar they were wowed by the colour and flavour intensity coming out of the must - so a programme of very gentle extraction followed with very little punching down. They've significantly reduced the amount of New Oak here too which allows for the generous and pretty fruit expression. 10-15% is raised in large oak vats with the remaining juice split 2/3 in new barrels and 1/3 1 year-old.

L&S (Jun 2020)


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The 2019 Pape-Clément was picked from 17 September to 10 October, underwent a 30 day maceration. Matured in 90% oak barrels and 10% wooden foudres for 18 months. It has a very perfumed bouquet with luscious black cherries and boysenberry fruit, touches of raspberry preserve and crème de cassis. The palate is full-bodied and quite muscular, exerting a firm grip and displaying plenty of tobacco-tinged black fruit that dovetails into a more saline, marine influenced finish. This is a very serious Pape-Clément that will require longer ageing than its peers, but will surely be rewarding for those with patience. Tasted on five occasions - hopefully there is some wine left back at the château. Drinking range: 2025 - 2060 Rating: 96-98 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jun 2020)

This shows attractive aromas and flavors of chocolate, walnuts, wet earth, mushrooms and berries with full-body, round and refined tannins and a subtle, focused finish. Excellent length, in a sophisticated way. Chewy at the end. Rating: 96-97 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2020)

The 2019 Pape Clément has a lot of intensity on the nose, although the new oak is more prominent here compared to the Domaine de Chevalier. Still, there is admirable delineation and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet 'n sour entry, grainy tannins, black truffle and soy. Quite intense and assertive on the finish. This will require 3-5 years in bottle and will doubtless deserve a higher score. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. Drinking range: 2026 - 2055 Rating: 94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2023)

Château Pape Clement

Pape Clement stakes a good claim to being the oldest vineyard in Bordeaux. On his accession to post of Archbishop of Bordeaux in 1299, Bernard de Groth was gifted the land by his brother and planted a vineyard. Five years later Bernard was elected Pope Clement V, from which title the estate takes its name. Too busy with Papal business, the estate was handed over to the Archbishops of Bordeaux who owned it until the Revolution.

The common malaise of 20th Century wars, depression and general decline saw Pape Clement in the doldrums by the 1970's. However, under the ownership of the Montagne family and the stewardship of Bernard Magrez, Château Pape Clement has become one of the leading estates in Pessac-Léognan.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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