Château Pape Clément Pessac-Léognan rouge 2018 - 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.

Decanter

About the wine:

I love seeing how Pape Clément evolves with each vintage. There’s still a hint of Venice Beach in its structure, but it’s retained some juiciness amidst the firm tannins—and that’s a good thing. There are also waves of freshness here, with plenty of juicy fruit and a mineral finish that stands up against notes of chocolate and smoky cedar. It has clearly been carefully extracted while retaining the aging potential and sense of confidence that characterize the estate.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

Dense, imposing, and sparkling with beautiful, youthful violet hues, the 2018 Pape Clément possesses an elegance and depth that are evident on the nose: fresh and candied fruit, vanilla, spices, a crackling fireplace, and smoked tea. Broad, long, powerful, and very fresh, with great energy, the palate also displays a remarkable sense of balance, well supported by tannins that are both firm and refined, and by expertly measured oak.

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.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Aromas of wild blackberries, blueberries, lavender, cloves, and eucalyptus, with a mineral edge. It is full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins. Silky and creamy, with a core of ripe fruit that evolves into notes of herbs, spices, and chocolate. Fantastic concentration and seamless integration.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

What balance and elegance in the bouquet of the 2018 Pape Clément! It offers many facets, and above all, its aging has done exactly what it should: complement the wine rather than overpower it! Fruity and spicy notes. The palate is refined and delightful. The wine unfolds in a crescendo and features fine, compact, tight, and perfectly integrated tannins. They possess the necessary structure to ensure the wine’s future and create a harmonious balance with the acidity. A truly beautiful success. Well done to the entire team.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fruity and elegant, offering power, a very fine-grained texture, and complexity. It features notes of juicy Boysenberry, juicy strawberry, and, more subtly, juicy blackcurrant, combined with delicate hints of violet, iris, purple plum, and blackberry, along with very subtle hints of licorice root and mentholated licorice, vanilla, and an imperceptible hint of blond tobacco and toast. The palate is fruity, balanced, silky, and melodious, offering lovely definition, a very fine texture, power, a lovely mineral backbone, and a refined smoothness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of Boysenberry, fleshy blackcurrant, and, more subtly, strawberry, combined with subtle hints of flowers, licorice, chocolate, and toasted notes, as well as very delicate hints of hazelnut, chocolate, and a hint of vanilla (in the background). The tannins are fine and elegant. A very delicate texture on the finish (pleasant and adds a touch of indulgence). Beautiful length and very nice persistence. A subtle hint of toasted bread/toasted almond on the finish.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Deep in color, this wine is filled with notes of smoke, licorice, tobacco, dark red fruits, and cedar. Rich, full-bodied, and deeply flavorful, the lush, round, ripe, and sweet fruit delivers exactly the notes you’re looking for.

Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing

About the wine:

With intense black fruit beautifully supported by smoky notes and a delightful hint of oak, the 2018 Château Pape Clément clearly showcases its fruitiness, elegance, and substantial tannic structure. The fresh, fruity finish possesses an undeniably charming airiness. The tannins are somewhat pronounced, however, but this is a unique Pape Clément in a vintage that suits it perfectly.