Castle Pape Clément - Pessac-Léognan red 2015

Vinifera

4 / 5

the5/31/2016

Nez très chatoyant, unique dans son expression avec le fumet caractéristique. Belle entrée en bouche, pleine, savoureuse. Développement continu. Grande texture aristocratique, finale longue et parfumée sur des notes fruitées intenses, très pures.

Decanter.com

95 / 100

byJane Ansonthe5/2/2016

Clear reductive environment, saving the best nose for the consumer and not for en primeur. A lovely richly textured wine –really velvety with gorgeous purity to the damson and black cherry fruits.
2025-2040

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/30/2016

Deep, dark hues lead you to a chocolate covered, black cherry, smoke, caramel and coffee bean set of aromas. Fat and rich with power, density and lush textures on the palate, this wine was produced from a blend of 56% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Reaching 14.2% alcohol with a pH of 3.85, the picking took place from September 25 to October 15. The grand Vin represents 60% of the harvest.

Bettane & Desseauve

18-18,5 / 20

the4/28/2016

Rondeur gourmande, tannin surfin, allonge veloutée. Très harmonieux, ample et souple, mais avec une trame profonde, fine, qui en fera un grand pape-clément de garde. Grand velouté de texture, fruit bien dégagé, tannin noble, parfaitement réussi et digne de l’attente.

Vinous

93-96 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/27/2016

The 2015 Pape Clément is stunningly beautiful. Rich, ample and powerful, the 2015 exudes richness. As always, Pape Clément is one of the most overt wines in Pessac, but the move towards picking a bit earlier gives the wine more energy than was the norm a decade ago without fundamentally altering the style Bernard Magrez and Michel Rolland favor. Dark red cherry, plum, menthol, licorice, blood orange and exotic spices are all very much alive. The purity of the fruit here is striking. This is one of the best recent vintages of Pape Clément I have tasted. The 2015 is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, done in about 80% new oak. Tasted four times.

Jancis Robinson

16,5 /

byJancis Robinsonthe4/26/2016

Very dark. Sweet yet fresh - very beguiling initially but maybe a little overdone. Intense and almost as though concentrated. Rather dry on the end. Hard work on the end.

Drink 2024-2034

timatkin.com

88 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe4/20/2016

René Gabriel

20 / 20

the4/10/2016

50 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 47 % Merlot, 2 % Petit Verdot, 1 % Cabernet Franc. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Extrem dunkelbeerig mit vielen Rauchnuancen, Lakritze, dunklen Edelhölzer, Guinness-Biermalz und Black Currant im ersten Ansatz. Nach ein paar Minuten kommt eine feine Zimtnuance zum Tragen, Heidelbeerenmark und Tahiti-Vanilleschote. Das Aromenpaket ist in sich gekehrt und bleibt noch etwas im Innern obwohl der Wein gleichfalls auch verschwenderische Ansätze zeigt. Ausgeglichene, royale Adstringenz aufweisend, cremiges Extrakt mit massiver, aber nicht überladener Konzentration, bleibt blaubeerig und hat in sich eine nicht erklärbare Faszination. 20/20 2024 – 2048

Jamessuckling.com

97-98 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2016

Shows amazing depth of fruit with fabulous polish and length. Electric acidity. Full body, very integrated and refined tannins. Phenolic finesse shows here.Great finish. It lasts for minutes. Best young Pape Clément I have tasted. Grows in the glass.

Wine Spectator

93-96 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2016

Big, broad and overt in style, with a thick frame of espresso and roasted apple wood around a core of dense plum paste and cassis flavors. Strides along authoritatively, as melted licorice and fruitcake notes fill in on the hefty finish. Shows more style than [i]terroir[n], but pulls it off.—J.M.

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

byNeal Martin

The 2015 Pape Clement is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. It was cropped at 40 hl/ha between 25 September and 15 October with berry by berry destemming. It has a drop-dead gorgeous bouquet that continues the ever greater finesse that has been imparted into this Pape-Clément in recent years. It is extremely precise, almost crystalline. The palate is underpinned by fine tannin, pitch-perfect acidity, a sense of cohesion and harmony that is outstanding. There is not a hair out of place on this barrel sample and it will doubtless evolve into one of the best wines this state has produced since the 14th century, when Bertrand de Goth was planting its first vines. This comes highly recommended - a Pape-Clément that will reward those who can resist temptation and cellar this wine for 10+ years. Tasted on four separate occasions. Drink 2025-2060