Pape Clément rouge - Pessac-Léognan 2017

Wine Advocate

94

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/17/2020

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Pape Clement is composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot, with a nose that is slightly closed at this youthful stage—broody and earthy with baked plums, boysenberries and mulberries aromas plus touches of iron ore, tobacco, tapenade and charcuterie. The palate is medium-bodied and elegant with exquisitely ripe tannins, lovely energy and freshness and a long, mineral-laced finish. Drinking Window : 2022 - 2048. 94+

Vinous

96

byAntonio Gallonithe3/11/2020

The 2017 Pape Clément is outrageously beautiful. Rich, deep and luscious on the palate, the 2017 possesses tremendous energy and richness from start to finish. Sweet red cherry, red plum, blood orange, spice and herb notes abound in an unctuous, racy wine of the highest level. The 2017 is deep, explosive and wonderfully persistent. It has been terrific on the three occasions I have tasted it so far.

Wine Spectator

95

byJames Molesworththe2/7/2020

Very rich, featuring warm cassis and plum puree flavors, laced with singed wood spice, melted licorice and black tea notes. Reveals a tarry hint, but this stays decidedly modern and polished in feel, with the fruit cruising through the finish with authority. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2038. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

96

byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020

Beautiful spice, tobacco, wet earth and blackcurrants with some raspberries. Aromatic and complex. Full-bodied, refined and layered with wonderful length and power. Yet, there’s always class and pretty length here. Seamless. Drink after 2022.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94-96

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

The Grand Vin 2017 Château Pape Clément is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot still aging in 60% new French oak. Harvest ran from the 15th of September to the 3rd of October, and I was able to taste this beauty on three separate occasions. Its deep purple color is followed by a blockbuster bouquet of ripe black cherries, blackberries, blueberries, graphite, and licorice. One of the more powerful, concentrated wines in the vintage, this medium to full-bodied effort has terrific purity of fruit, a mouthfilling texture, and present, ripe tannin. Too many 2017s lack excitement, but that’s not the case here. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following 15+ years.

WeinWisser

17,5

byRené Gabrielthe5/31/2018

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot. Dunkles Purpur mit violett-schwarzen Reflexen. Das Bou­quet zeigt viel Cassis, Brombeernoten sowie orientalische Gewürze, Tahiti-Vanil-te und getrocknete Pfefferkôrner. Am Gaumen stoffig mit dichtem, austrock-nendem Extrakt, der mit massiven Tanni-nen besetzt ist. Die wunderbaren Rie-der- und Cassis-Noten im gebündelten Rückaroma bieten einen schônen Kont-rast dazu, Ein Kraftakt, der einen war-men, konzentrierten Jahrgang vermuten liesse. Wirkt im Moment knapp über dem Limit vinifiziert. Kann aber noch sicherzulegen.                         
17.5/20 2024 - 2044

Vinifera

93

byJacques Perrinthe5/28/2018

Éclatant dans le fruit, avec une prise de bois discrète, la bouche est vineuse, juteuse et pleine, longue, enrobée. Beaucoup de goût et de vin, sans surmaturité. Excellent.

Vinous

94-97

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 Pape Clément is fabulous. One of the rare 2017s with a real sense of structure, Pape Clément possesses dazzling intensity from start to finish. A rush of dark cherry, plum, chocolate and grilled herb notes hits the palate as this majestic, towering wine shows off its personality. Time in the glass brings out a brighter and more floral set of flavors. The 2017 is the first vintage made with a portion of whole clusters, an inspiration Bernard Magrez takes from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where he recently bought a small property. Quite simply, the 2017 Pape Clément is a magnificent wine by any measure. Don't miss it. The only problem with the 2017 is that yields are down 40% because of frost.

The Wine Cellar Insider

95-97

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

Deep in color, the wine is floral with blackberry, boysenberry, licorice and espresso notes. Sweet with bright, crisp fruits, stylistically this is a bright vintage – tannin tensions paired with a fresh fruit edge. The wine was produced by blending 55% Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot, the wine reached 14.04% alcohol with a pH of 3.6.

Vinous

92-94

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 Pape Clément was not touched by the frost and was picked from 15 September to 3 October, manually de-stemmed berry by berry with some of the ripe stems added back into the blend (like Les Carmes Haut-Brion down the road). Malolactic is done in barrel where it aged for 18 months. It offers intense black cherry, raspberry, fig and sous-bois scents on the nose, tightly coiled at the moment with just a hint of cedar and tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannin, a mixture of red and black fruit, touches of cedar and white pepper, leading to a structured and fresh finish that leaves a spicy aftertaste. Classic in style, this Pape Clément will benefit from several years in bottle.

Wine Advocate

92-94

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

The current blend of the 2017 Pape Clement is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sings of crushed black cherries, black raspberries and mulberries with hints of lilacs and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied with a firm, grainy frame and wonderful freshness, it possesses great elegance and effortless intensity with a mineral-tinged finish.

Decanter.com

92

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2018

I have found that Magrez estates have done exceptionally well in 2017, pretty much across the board, but here I feel a reach towards the barrel that is just the slightest bit out of step with the ripeness of the fruit. The tannins are flexible and in control, but it just lacks a touch of the opulence in the black fruits that was so abundant in 2015 and 2016. There is no doubt that it has been very well constructed, and it will age confidently in the medium to long term.
Drinking Window 2025 - 2038

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/17/2018

Wine Enthusiast

90-92

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2018

This is a hugely dense, extracted wine, possibly too much so, displaying a hard edge that smothers the ripe fruit. Giving it the benefit of the doubt, it certainly will not be drinkable before 2024.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

This is very dense for the vintage on the center palate and then rolls out on the palate. Full-bodied, tight and tannic. Very polished and refined at the end. Precise. A little more cabernet sauvignon in the blend gives this the tension.

Wine Spectator

91-94

byJames Molesworththe4/4/2018

This has solid ripeness, with plum and cassis notes flowing through, along with an ambitious oak regimen that results in ample toasted vanilla hints. This clamps down a touch on the finish, but there’s good purity and freshness, with fresh acidity buried within, leaving me optimistic.—J.M.