About the Wine

Welcome to the oldest wine estate in Pessac with more than 700 released vintages!

Château Pape Clement has a very long story to tell, the first vintage released was in 1252 and the estate has produced wine every year since. Previously the Château was called Domaine de la Mothe and acquired the name of Pape Clement thanks to its second owner, Gaillard de Goth brother of Bertrand de Goth who in 1305 was named Pope, Pope Clement V. Gaillar inherited the estate from his brother Bertrand and he, in turn, renamed the castle as we now know it.

The renowned Château passed through the hands of different owners, each of whom contributed to positive achievements to the growth of the property. Since 1980, the Château could not fall into better hands than the passionate wine-lover and great wine entrepreneur Bernard Margez. For Bernard, Château Pape Clement was the beginning of his great career as a wine entrepreneur, Pape Clement is the first vineyard of 42 estates that he currently owns, including La Tour Carnet, Château Fombrauge, and Clos Haut Peyraguey. This winery and this wine is his flagship.

Château Pape Clement is on the list of the Classification of Graves Wine of 1959, in which Haut-Brion is also enlisted.Located in the spectacular terroir of Pessac-Leognan, this Château's nearly 150-acre vineyard is fortunate to be situated on the oldest of the alluvial terraces known as the “Pyrenean gravel bed”.

The combination of an extraordinary climate, enviable soils, wine-making practices that are constantly innovating, cutting-edge technology, and the hand of technical advisor Michelle Rolland have allowed the word “Excellence” to be synonymous with this Château; And not only do we say it, but the famous wine critic Robert Parker can also assure it, in 2009 and 2019 two wines from this Château obtained perfect 100 point scores.

In addition to being careful in all aspects of the quality of the wine and vineyard, they are also environmentally responsible and it is one of the few Châteaux certified with the highest environmental distinction according to France; the HVE 3.

2020 was a great year for Bordeaux. Vinous Media blessed this year with a 97-point review and said, "Two thousand-twenty is an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux, certainly the best in the 2018-2020 trilogy. Quality is very, very high."

Aging: 18 months in French oak barriques, 66% new, with about 10% aging in large oak foudres

Tasting Notes: 

50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot.
See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

Reviews

Ranking with the top wines of the vintage, the dense purple-hued 2020 Château Pape Clement offers a sensational bouquet of pure crème de cassis interwoven with notes of liquid violets and classy oak. Possessing flawless balance, full-bodied richness, and ultra-fine tannins, it excels in this vintage and has a pretty, elegant, yet also layered and concentrated profile. It will drink well with just short-term cellaring yet evolve gracefully for 20-30 years. I was able to taste this on multiple occasions, and it always checked in near the upper end of the scale. This is a gorgeous wine in the making. ~97-99 Jeb Dunnuck

Lots of blackberry, iodine and crushed stone here. Some black pepper and graphite, too. Full body and medium, fine tannins that have a powdery texture and open in the mouth. So much going on. Iodine and iron undertones with some raw mushroom bring you back for more. Muscular. This is for the cellar. ~98 James Suckling

The 2020 Pape Clément is outrageously beautiful. Dark, virile and imposing, the 2020 is a rare vintage of Pape Clément that is vertical and statuesque in feel. Dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice and cloves infuse the palate with tremendous depth. In a word: magnificent. ~98 Vinous

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Pape Clement comes barreling out of the glass with bold notes of cassis, plum preserves and licorice, giving way to scents of cedar chest, crushed rocks, charcoal and pencil lead. The medium to full-bodied palate is tightly coiled with beautiful tension and a firm, finely grained texture locking in the layers of black fruits and minerals, finishing with great length and energy. The blend this year is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot, aging mainly in French oak barriques, 66% new, with about 10% aging in large oak foudres. The wine will spend approximately 18 months in barrels. ~96-98 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

This ancient estate, an oasis in the suburbs of Bordeaux city, offers a wine that is packed with promising tannins. The important and rich black fruits reveal concentration, density and the potential of the development of a fine balance and structure as it matures. ~94-96 Wine Enthusiast

This is snazzed up with flashy toast, but there's ample mulberry, cassis and plum compote fruit to soak it up, while notes of licorice and sweet spice fill in the background. A late tug of warm earth keeps this grounded. ~95 Wine Spectator

Powerful in colour, this has the glass staining red and purple colours that Pape Clément does so well. Touches of liquorice and cocoa beans, well handled, this gives power with one hand but takes it away with the other as the austerity and fresh mint leaf comes to the fore. Impressive, a really enjoyable, classically wrought but still full of concentration Pape Clément. Savoury, there is nothing too exuberant in the fruits but it exudes deft confidence. Drinking Window 2028 - 2044 ~94 Decanter

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