Château PAPE CLÉMENT
Grand cru classé

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Its 2022 vintage, full-bodied, intense, discreetly woody and less smoky than previous vintages, will rank among the greatest Bordeaux whites of the decade. Here are some comments from the press:

Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 95/100 "The 2022 Pape Clément Blanc is rich, layered and so inviting. Tangerine peel, pineapple, tropical fruit, mint and exotic floral notes fill out the layers. Light tropical inflections suggest a certain amount of richness, but in the end, the 2022 is airy and very nicely lifted. All the elements are so well balanced."

J-M Quarin (February 2025): 94/100 "Pale yellow colour. Intense nose with very ripe fruit. Incredibly aromatic on the palate, giving it great charm and a unique character. The wine melts in the finish, long and very good."

The 2022 vintage in the press :

Vinous (N. Martin - January 2026): 94/100 "The 2022 Pape Clément is definitely a step up in quality compared to the previous wines in the flight, with much more complexity and terroir expression, minerally with light estuarine scents. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, finely balanced, fresh and tensile, with a dash of white pepper and spice box towards the classically styled finish. Long-term potential here."

Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 97/100 "The 2022 Pape Clément is a classy, elegant wine. Soaring aromatics open first. On the palate, the 2022 is vibrant and explosive, with terrific depth and exceptional balance. Today's wines here are simply striking because of their energy and verve. Those qualities help make Pape Clément one of the most changed wines in Bordeaux over the last decade or so. Red/purplish fruit, blood orange, cinnamon, new leather and sage are some of the many notes that linger on the sustained finish. The 2022 is a superb Pape Clément."

JM Quarin (February 2025): 95/100 “Beautiful deep colour. An intense, pure and refined nose with ripe fruit. Smooth and fragrant on the palate with good body, a caressing texture and a very aromatic, sap-like finish.”

Le millésime 2021 dans la presse :

Vinous (A. Galloni - December 2023): 94/100 “The 2021 Pape Clément is a very elegant, polished wine. Crushed flowers, red cherry fruit, blood orange, menthol and spice all grace this wonderfully layered, expressive vintage of Pape Clément. Pretty floral top notes add freshness and vivacity. The more laid-back house style these days is so appealing”.

J-M Quarin (février 2024) : 96/100

Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 94/100

The 2020 vintage in the press :

Vinous (N. Martin - January 2024): 95/100 "The 2020 Pape Clément has a comparatively light, rather "aloof" bouquet that demands rigorous coaxing in the glass. This might be going through a dumb phase. The palate is very elegant and harmonious, exerting insistent grip and finely judged acidity with a vivacious, persistent finish. It's wonderful, but it needs time for the aromatics to fully open."

Vinous (A. Galloni - December 2022): 98/100 "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."

JM Quarin (March 2023): 95/100 “Deep, intense colour. Very aromatic, fruity nose. Complex notes of blackberries and pine wood. It develops a creamy texture when swirled in the glass. Precise on the attack, flavourful on the palate, with a velvety body, the wine evolves with well-integrated tannins and a woody flavour. Wait for it to mellow.”

The 2018 vintage in the press:

Vinous (A. Galloni - March 2021): 96/100 “The 2018 Pape Clément is such a beautiful and inviting wine. Silky perfumed and layered, the 2018 shows the more restrained, vibrant style that has become the norm here in recent years. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and spice are front and center, while the oak - in the past so strong here - is really dialed back. The 2018 is going to be a fascinating wine to follow in the cellar over the next several decades. The purity of the flavors is just striking”

J.M Quarin (September 2021): 94/100

The 2019 vintage in the press:

Vinous (N. Martin - January 2023): 92/100 “The 2019 La Tour Carnet has a nicely composed bouquet with blackberry, raspberry coulis, cedar and subtle sous-bois scents, quite precise and focused. The palate is very well balanced with finely sculpted tannins, well-judged acidity and harmonious, classically-styled finish. Very fine”.

J-M Quarin (February 2022): 90/100 “Delicate on the attack, savory in the middle, with a melting body and a slight liveliness in the flavor, the wine finishes well-built and long.”

The 2010 vintage in the press:

Vinous (S. Tanzer - July 2013): 91+/100 "Bright,dark red. Sexy aromas of black cherry, blueberry, licorice, menthol and flowers seemed to shut down with aeration. Densely packed and fresh, with sound acidity intensifying the pretty, well-delineated black fruit flavors. The wine's firm spine of tannins and acids is nicely supported by its mid-palate concentration. A very impressive vintage for this bottling, and in need of patience."

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The 2023 vintage in the press:

Vinous (N. Martin - February 2026): 91/100 "The 2023 Fombrauge has a perfumed bouquet with mulberry, raspberry and light minty scents hovering in the background. The oak here is nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine line of acidity, taut and fresh, with a controlled and focused finish. Gentle grip overall, this is a well-made Fombrauge that should age well in bottle."

The 2021 vintage in the press :

Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 90/100