Château Pape Clément 2022

More subtle and finely scented than en primeur, with radiant fruit and blond tobacco; creamy attack, showing opulence and fullness, ultra-fine tannins, perfectly integrated barrique, long-lasting, juicy, with blackberries and a hint of green bell pepper on the finish. Has developed beautifully.

Well-packed with dark currant, raspberry, plum and cherry compote notes, all carried by gently singed apple wood and cedar. Sweet tobacco and a flash of incense fill in on the finish, which offers woodsy hints but stays polished and fine-grained overall. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2028 through 2040. 23,800 cases made.

Cool blue fruit, salty stones and liquorice – smells fresh and scented. Ripe and concentrated, the chewy tannins are at the fore, straight away giving the depth and frame while the blueberries and cherries linger in the background with a slight chalky sensation on the tongue. Feels a little less lively than some, more so because the frame is quite imposing, but I do like the muscular style as there's so much definition. Precision and poise but not so immediately accessible. The ending is a bit restricted and it doesn't flow as well as others yet there's no faulting the construction in terms of focus and classicism.

Cask sample. Quite a change from the excessively concentrated wines of the past, in a vintage that naturally offers concentration! Deep purplish crimson. Rich, ripe nose and then some unintegrated acidity imposes itself. Decidedly unknit at the moment with acidity dominating tannins that are evident only on the very end. Sandy finish. A curious wine that is fresher and less exaggerated than earlier vintages. An attempt to lighten up perhaps? (JR)

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. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Absolutely stunning, this majestic charmer hit everything right this year. Concentrated, lush, plush, and full-bodied, there is also a sense of lift, and vibrancy. Opaque in color, the wine initially grabs your attention with its showy display of flowers, cinnamon, chocolate, blackberries, and black cherries in the perfume. But, it is the palate that steals the show with its intensity, length, and energy. The wine blends 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2030-2060.

Medium to full intensity ruby in colour, gentle smoke on the nose, along with liquorice and cocoa bean on the opening beats, good length here, perhaps a little tight still at this point but plenty of ageing potential, and an enjoyably fragrant wave of rose petals and orange peel on the finish. Heavy bottle. 35 hl/ha yield, native yeast fermentation, aged in a variety of differently sized casks and barrels, 75 ha estate.

A pure, vibrant nose of ripe red fruits. Beautiful balance on the palate, then an incredible wealth of perfectly ripe fruit unfolds progressively. The wine’s savory freshness lingers through to the finish. A great success, with pedigree.

Superb bouquet, deep and complex, with subtle notes of elderberry and raspberry, along with wafts of graphite and licorice, while nuances from the élevage emerge in the background. Dense and creamy, even slightly saline on the attack, the wine is never excessive. Its fine-grained tannins provide a precious, silky framework, destined to carry the wine through the years to come. A sapid, powerful, harmonious, and delicious wine!

The nose is fresh, precise, straight, herbal and tangy, yet gourmand. It reveals notes of peppermint, sweet fresh tobacco, rosemary syrup, chocolate, and a tangy cocoa-nib edge. The fruit on the nose is indulgent and ripe – fresh morello cherry, chocolate-coated morello cherry, fresh and crushed blackcurrant, raspberry, wild strawberry, bigarreau cherry – along with peony, violet, toasted nuances and a hint of coffee, plus a resinous touch of pine bark. The palate opens on fresh, juicy, tangy fruit (fresh morello cherry, fresh and crushed blackcurrant, raspberry, wild strawberry, bigarreau cherry). Then come notes of peony, violet, toasted tones, chocolate, coffee, and pine sap. Freshness, firmness, and beautifully fine tannins. A well-structured wine, with lovely length and a tangy lift on the finish.

Black fruits dominate, with notes of gently crushed blackberries. Although ready to drink, it would benefit from a few more years to reveal its full complexity. The terroir and gravelly-limestone soils bring structure and elegance, offering a promising future.

Dark, purple color. Intense nose with ripe fruit. Complex nuances. Finely fleshy on the attack, aromatic mid-palate, complete; the wine develops with wood-marked persistence, but remains long, fruity, with a distinguished grain. Blend: 60% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon. Alcohol: 14.48% – pH: 3.72.

95-97 Barrel sample. The combination of smooth texture and firm tannins is both rich and fragrant. This is a fine vintage, from an estate founded in the 13th century. It is powerful and will age well.