Château Pape Clement red - Pessac-Léognan 2011

My Bettane + Desseauve

18 / 20

the11/12/2014

Riche et serré dans sa texture, avec une vinosité rare dans le millésime, grande suite en bouche, et déjà présentes les notes fumées du terroir.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

90 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe8/31/2014

Dark ruby-red.  Fresh, floral aromas of blackcurrant, herbs, talc and chocolate.  Currently dominated by oak on the palate, with minerally blackberry and blueberry flavors emerging only slowly with aeration.  Finishes with lively acidity and substantial but smooth tannins.  I don't find the rich creamy fruit this wine showed during the Primeurs; I wonder if it didn't see too much oak given the vintage's characteristics.  I wouldn't touch a bottle for another three or four years. (90(+?) points)

Wine Advocate

96 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/2/2014

The 2011 Pape Clement, a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, was aged 18 months in new French oak before being bottled unfiltered. Absolutely profound, with a complex bouquet of mulberries, black cherries, black currants, graphite and subtle smoke and burning ember-like aromas, this is a true super-star of the vintage. It represents a remarkable achievement by the winemaking team of Bernard Magrez. Full-bodied, rich and multidimensional, this wine clearly transcends the entire vintage. It should age effortlessly for 25 years.

Wine Spectator

93 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/10/2014

Offers a grippy feel, with tar and warm fruitcake notes framing a core of plum sauce, blackberry coulis and pastis. Sappy and energetic through the finish. The tarry grip hangs on. Best from 2016 through 2028.

La Revue du Vin de France

16,5-17,5 / 20

the5/31/2012

La situation très urbaine du vignoble de Pape Clément a beaucoup fait souffrir la vigne durant le coup de chaud des 26 et 27 juin, diminuant de façon conséquante les rendements (28 hl/ha). Pour trier, Bernard Magrez n'a pas lésiné sur les moyens : 110 personnes autour de quatre tables de tri ont égrappé manuellement la vendange et sélectionné les plus beaux raisins! L'assemblage à parts égales de Cabernet-Sauvignon et merlot offre une trame de tanins remarquablement extraite. Résultat : ce 2011 est d'une grande suavité, charmeur et finement toasté. Finale fraîche.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

92-94 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe5/12/2012

Deep purple-ruby. Knockout aromas of blackcurrant and violet complicated by chocolate and spices. Then tighter and less opulent in the mouth than the nose would suggest, offering very pure, precise flavors of black fruits and minerals. The mounting tannins are polished and fine-grained, though not shy. This wine has the balance and structure to age well.

Decanter.com

17 / 20

the4/30/2012

Fragrant and lifted black summer fruits, very good natural ripeness and rather tough tannins that need time to show elegance and polish for the long term. Drink 2017-2035.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2012

I had the 2011 Pape Clement on four separate occasions and there was a slight sample variation, but this seems to be a fair estimate of its potential. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the rest tiny proportions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2011 offers notes of lead pencil shavings, charcoal, barbecue meat, black cherries, black currants and plum sauce. This is a medium to full-bodied, dense as well as strikingly elegant and precise wine. The purity, palate presence and potentially complex aromatics always stand out in a Pape Clement. This example should drink well for 15-24 years. This great terroir, which is basically within a suburb on the southern outskirts of Bordeaux only 2-3 miles from Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion, is just over 100 acres.

TAST

17,5-18 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2012

Riche et serré dans sa texture, avec une vinosité rare dans le millésime, grande suite en bouche, et déjà présentes les notes fumées du terroir.

Wein Wisser

17 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2012

Extem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Ein Bouquet, das sich von allen anderen Nasenbildern dieser Appellation unterscheidet. Sehr mineralisch, Kaffeerösterei, Black-Currant-Pastillen, eingekochte Kirschen, frisch gesägtes Redwood-Holz, extrem süss und bombig in seiner Fülle. Mundfüllender Gaumen mit cremigen, aber auch verlangenden Tanninen, viel Lakritze, Korinthen, Rauch. Die Extraktion ist dramatisch und passt nicht zum Jahrgang, aber wohl doch zu einem Garagenwein. (Pape-Clément ist mittlerweile die erzwungenerweise grösste Garage in Pessac). Kein Winzer sollte versuchen, eine Magnum in eine Normalflasche zu zwingen. Far to much!!! 2020-2048

The Wine Cellar Insider

90-92 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/27/2012

This wine blends equal portions Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and was aged in 100% new oak. Coffee, licorice, blackberry and tobacco smoke make up the perfume. This medium-bodied wine has some dryness in the finish and ends with black cherry, spice and raspberry. 90-92 Pts

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/27/2012

The 2011 is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot cropped between 16th September and 7th October. It has a very refined bouquet with ripe blackberry, briary, crushed stone and graphite, almost Pauillac in style with impressive delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, good acidity and much more substance than I was expecting. It is a Pape Clement whose byword is: panache. It is supremely well put together, very harmonious with a seamless finish that slips down the throat. Unashamedly modern in style as one would expect, but it is very well crafted. Tasted April 2012

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

byJulia Harding MWthe4/20/2012

Drink 2018-2028Deep smudgy black cherry colour. Ripe red fruit, bright and juicy on the palate too even though the tannins are firm and deep. Some savoury graphite and spice notes so not a simple fruit wine – though there is plenty of that. Full flavoured and full in the mouth. Deep-pile tannins. Generous rather than elegant. (JH) (16+ points)

Wine Spectator

92-95 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/10/2012

Nothing is reined in here, with lots of roasted apple wood and mesquite aromas that lead to dark, plush blackberry and plum paste notes. Rich and broad, but well-detailed, this pounds its chest a bit, but it's impressively done.—J.M.

Wine Enthusiast

90-92 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/5/2012

This is a closed wine, dominated by dark, dry tannins and spice. The wine misses fruit with its solid core of dryness. —R.V

Jamessuckling.com

90-91 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/1/2012

The nose of violets, warm stone and blueberries is very impressive. Full body, with chewy tannins and a firm finish. Outstanding but like to see a little more fruit in the mid-palate. Chewy.