Château Pape Clément Pessac-Léognan rouge 2019 - Grand Cru Classé

Its name alone speaks to the status this estate has enjoyed for the past thirty years. Here, everything borders on perfection: the white and red wines are elegant and sophisticated.

 

Bernard Magrez, who also owns the châteaux La Tour Carnet (Haut-Médoc) and Fombrauge (Saint-Émilion), has made this estate his flagship. Nothing is left to chance in the quest to produce the greatest wine possible. The pursuit of optimal ripeness, hand-destemming, and lavish aging… This is the archetype of a modern, luxurious Bordeaux that captivates immediately and evolves with great charm. On the flip side, some vintages have occasionally veered into excess. Time, however, sets things right and tempers the wine’s fiery spirit, as the terroir eventually reasserts itself. Nevertheless, since the 2012 vintage, a shift in style has been noticeable, moving toward wines less marked by the sometimes excessive pursuit of ripeness and toward less aggressive aging—a trend clearly evident in our recent tastings, particularly with the 2015 vintage. The estate produces a small quantity of a white wine (aged partly in ovoid concrete tanks) that is delicately musky and possesses an elegance that places it at the forefront of Sauvignon-dominated Graves wines.

The 2019 Pape Clément is just as impressive as it was when first released. It displays all the rich texture so typical of Bernard Magrez’s wines, but with an added touch of freshness that gives it energy and a sense of balance. This 2019 is a wine of great stature and class. The succulent black cherries, plums, mocha, new leather, and licorice are beautifully defined. But above all, I find the wine’s energy truly impressive. It’s a fabulous vintage for Pape Clément. Tasted twice. 2027–2039

Notes of flint and berries, with hints of blackberries and black tea. Just a touch of smokiness and ripe fruit. It is so refined, subtle, and magnificent, with good body, ultra-fine tannins, and a succulent finish. The mid-palate is dense and full-bodied. The finish lingers for minutes. So subtle and refined, concentrated and elegant. Best enjoyed after 2026.

As for the 2019 Château Pape Clément Grand Vin, it boasts a dense purple color and reveals remarkable aromas, blending blackcurrant cream, graphite, pencil shavings, burnt earth, and tobacco. Beautifully balanced and endowed with impeccable tannins, this full-bodied Pessac offers that rare blend of elegance and power, a superb mid-palate, and, once again, perfect balance. A true gem of the vintage, it is already approachable thanks to its purity and harmony, while still deserving 4 to 5 additional years of aging; it will easily age for the next two decades, or even longer, if stored in a cool cellar. The blend consists of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged in French oak barrels (two-thirds of which are new). 2026–2052

The intense nose, with notes of blackcurrant and blackberry, reveals a spicy complexity. From the moment of its smooth attack, the wine unfolds an impressive velvety structure: a silky texture with well-integrated tannins, brimming with full-bodied, rich aromas—juicy black fruits, toasty notes, and floral hints of iris. A concentrated and dense wine with magnificent balance. The finish lingers with a fruity and floral bouquet—evoking marigold—and a spicy freshness. A Pape Clément true to its signature style: distinguished and elegant.

Subtle and delicate, the 2019’s bouquet nonetheless signals a shift in direction; it appears that the focus has shifted toward a less opulent, less showy style. The wine stands out for its finesse, its creamy yet precise tannins, and an acidic structure that lends vitality to the finish. The finish is lively, even slightly salty, and persistent.  2029–2055

Almost opaque in color, the wine opens with an intense array of aromas of smoke, tobacco, cigar box, flowers, spices, black plums, and blackberries. On the palate, the wine is rich, lush, polished, full-bodied, deep, long, and fresh. The finish easily exceeds 50 seconds, leaving you with an opulent texture and layers of perfectly ripe, sensual, and rich black fruit. Since the amount of oak was reduced during the aging process, the fruit shines in the foreground, giving it greater vitality and purity. This is a great Pape Clément vintage that clearly deserves your attention. Best enjoyed between 2030 and 2060.