Château Pape Clément Pessac-Léognan rouge 2020 - 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:

Pape Clément 2020 is outrageously beautiful. Dark, masculine, and imposing, the 2020 is a rare vintage of Pape Clément that is vertical and sculptural. Black fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice, and clove infuse the palate with exceptional depth. In a word: magnificent. 2030–2050

James Suckling

About the wine:

Plenty of blackberry, iodine, and crushed stone. A hint of black pepper and graphite as well. Full-bodied with medium, fine tannins that have a powdery texture and open up on the palate. There’s so much going on. Hints of iodine and iron with a touch of raw mushroom bring you back to reality. Muscular. This wine is meant to be cellared. Drink after 2027.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

I absolutely loved the 2020 Château Pape Clément, and this gem ranks among the best wines of Pessac. Made from equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged for 18 months—90% in barrels and 10% in large casks— it boasts a deep purple hue accompanied by a powerful, concentrated profile of red and black fruits, numerous nuances of spice, chocolate, and floral incense, full-bodied richness, and an almost salty, blood-like character on the finish. This gem showcases the vintage’s concentrated yet thoroughly classic, focused, and elegant style, and there is so much to love. It will be even better after 4 to 6 years of bottle aging and will celebrate its 30th anniversary in top form. 2027–2057

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

The wine remains impressive. The nose is expressive, with notes of raspberry and a hint of licorice that carry through to the palate, along with that characteristic texture. But the juiciness and freshness are very much present and are equally appealing. The tannins are well-defined, and the extraction is clearly spot-on, demonstrating great mastery. A wine with breadth and volume, finishing with a well-balanced licorice note that serves as a unifying thread. True to the estate’s style—and that’s a good thing. Once again, Pape Clément is a force to be reckoned with.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

One grows accustomed to Pape Clément’s refined and subtle character, and it is, after all, more fitting than the exuberance we have come to know. Much like the bouquet, the attack shines with finesse and silkiness. The tannins are perfectly integrated, creamy, powerful, and poised to carry the wine through the decades to come. A brilliant wine, impressive in its precision, serenity, and persistence. 2027–2050

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Deep in color and almost opaque, the wine exudes aromas of smoke, roasted espresso, cigar wrapper, blackberry, black cherry, licorice, and chocolate. It displays fabulous depth, purity, length, and complexity. The richly textured finish is full-bodied, powerful, intense, and polished, with a lingering note that persists long after the wine has left the glass. This is Pape Clément’s best vintage in years. Drink between 2026 and 2055.