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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

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

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Bernard Magrez, who also owns Château La Tour Carnet (Haut-Médoc) and Château Fombrauge (Saint-Émilion), has made this estate his flagship. Nothing is left to chance in the quest to produce the finest wine possible. The pursuit of optimal ripeness, hand-destemming, luxurious aging… This is the archetype of the modern, luxurious Bordeaux, one that captivates immediately and evolves with great charm. On the flip side, some vintages have occasionally veered into excess. Time then sets things right and calms the wine’s fiery spirit, as the terroir eventually reasserts itself. However, 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, which was 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.

Vinous

About the wine:

The 2019 Pape Clément is just as impressive as it was when tasted en primeur. 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 immense 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 is a fabulous vintage for Pape Clément. Tasted twice. 2027–2039

James Suckling

About the wine:

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. It lingers for minutes. So subtle and refined, concentrated and classy. Best enjoyed after 2026.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

The nose is toasty, with aromas of caramel and mocha, and a hint of complexity. On the palate, a lovely freshness and pleasant bitterness complement notes of fern and spice. A mouth-watering, silky wine with a delightful hint of chalkiness.

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

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 integrated tannins, bursting with full-bodied, fleshy aromas, juicy black fruits, and toasty and floral notes 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.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Subtle and delicate, the bouquet of the 2019 vintage nonetheless signals a shift in direction; it appears that the focus has shifted toward a less opulent, less ostentatious 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 briny, and persistent.  2029–2055

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

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 vintage from Pape Clément that clearly deserves your attention. Best enjoyed between 2030 and 2060.