Le Clémentin de Pape Clément Pessac-Léognan 2019 - Second vin

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.

Aroma of blackcurrant, black pepper, and milk chocolate. It displays lovely notes of cherry, strawberry, and raspberry. A bit too much acidity, but it’s well-crafted. Fresh and lively, though perhaps not quite as layered. Fine tannins coat the palate and provide gentle structure. Still a bit oaky at this stage. Drinking window: 2024–2035

 

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 toward 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.

Pape Clément's 2019 Clémentin is a magnificent second wine that captures all the personality of the Grand Vin in a more accessible style that will be ready to drink upon release. Notes of spice, tobacco, earth, and savory add nuance to this supple and superbly textured wine.

A medium-bodied red with notes of blackberries and crushed stone. Aromas of nuts and pine as well. Medium, rounded tannins and a juicy finish. Pape Clément’s second wine. Best enjoyed after 2024.

A soft, smoky aromatic profile, with notes of tobacco leaves, espresso, pencil lead, and red berries. On the palate, the wine is round, smooth, sweet, and fruity. It has depth, character, and a burst of ripe red berries on the finish. Enjoy it while you wait for the Grand Vin to mature. Best enjoyed from 2023 to 2034.