Château Pape Clément Pessac-Léognan rouge 2025 - Grand Cru Classé (Primeurs)

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:

A very floral, expressive nose, with aromas of ripe red and black fruits, fragrant notes of incense, and a rich opulence of great aromatic purity. Supple and velvety, round and lively, this wine displays a rather delicate style that emphasizes the clarity of blueberry fruit and airy notes rather than body or power. Almost understated—an adjective rarely associated with Le Pape. A soft touch of salt, damp stone, and chalk on the finish. Definitely fresh, with plenty of energy. Elegant and precise, with a velvety texture on the finish and notes of ripe fruit.

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, luxury 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 tempers 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, 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.

Vinous

About the wine:

The 2025 Pape Clément is magnificent. Its bouquet alone is captivating. Powerful floral and spicy notes burst from the glass. Lavender, rose petals, sage, mint, and mocha give way to a wonderfully vibrant heart of red and purple fruits. Medium-bodied and deep, the 2025 Pape Clément is simply exceptional. The Cabernets and Petit Verdot bring a very pronounced aromatic presence.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

What finesse in the bouquet of Pape Clément, which shines with its many facets without any single element dominating the others. Nuances of ripe black berries blend with notes of cocoa, a hint of eucalyptus, and then red berries. A masterful fusion of freshness and ripeness, with exemplary complexity and subtlety. On the palate, the wine makes no mistake about who it is. Its distinct identity is to be commended. The tannins possess a beautifully fine grain and harmonize with the richness imparted by aging, while the incisive acidity ensures salinity and freshness. A wine that stands out for its energy and contemporary character, which does not undermine the wine’s essence but rather focuses it, highlighting its strengths. The energy present needs to be channeled through to the finish. Aging should help achieve this. 2030–2065

Jean-Marc Quarin