Château Pape Clément 2023

Dense color, complex nose, dark berries, smoky notes, tobacco, resin; soft entry, then it tightens, the tannins are finely woven with the fruit, the oak is not overbearing; shows elegance and spice. Very cleanly vinified, built for medium-term maturity.

With aromas of blackberry, plum and crushed tobacco offering promise, I feel that the palate comes across a touch over‑extracted, with tannins coming to the fore. The good news is less new oak, so that the estate aims for balance, but perhaps the 2023 vintage here is not ideal? In any case, while I appreciate the intensity of the palate, I feel that one should be more conservative until after bottling, to see the extent to which barrel ageing will soften the palate.

50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 35 hl/ha. Captivating bouquet with ripe morello cherries, elderberry jelly and dark noble wood, followed by licorice and Brazilian tobacco. On the full, juicy palate with a creamy texture, tightly knit, fleshy tannin structure, supporting freshness and a muscular body. In the concentrated, long-lasting finish, red and blue berries, dark minerality and fine-grained extract richness.

Well-judged smoked and grilled vanilla bean and sandalwood, cedar and cherry pit, concentrated spice and roasted black fruits, softened, expanded and deepened over ageing. A luscious Pape Clement, aged in large oak casks, around 37% new oak, with the final blend taking place after ageing. 35hl/ha yield. Michel Rolland and Julien Viaud consultants. Single point upgrade.

The focus on freshness is apparent from the very first aromas, without denying the oaky style, but placing it in a supporting role rather than the lead. The bouquet reveals nuances of fresh wood, red-berry fragrances, then notes of black berries, not forgetting a hint of eucalyptus. A true olfactory microcosm in which everyone has a part to play. What a beautiful definition of harmony. On the palate, the wine opens with suave, well-framed arguments where charm and temperament complement each other. It has depth, with very clear ambitions that endorse both its sparkling and its captivating sides. A delicious, harmonious wine that showcases its overall balance. The saline, mouth-watering finish energizes the aftertaste; charm pampers it, and the symbiosis brings smiles to the faces of those who savour this wine. What a fine contemporary outcome.

The nose is fresh, fruity and mineral. It offers a fine fresh-fleshy feel and a certain textured side, with notes of blackberry and raspberry and, more subtly, small fresh/pulpy red berries, as well as subtle hints of black pepper and cardamom, with a delicate floral touch in the background. The palate is nicely juicy, fresh, well-balanced and precise, offering minerality, accuracy and tension. It shows notes of juicy/pulpy raspberry, fleshy/juicy cherry and, more subtly, fresh/juicy blackcurrant, with hints of infusion and star anise, as well as fine touches of cardamom and a discreet toasty note. The tannins are sapid and supple. Flavorful finish. A lovely indulgence. A discreet almost caramelized touch on the finish/persistence.

94-96. Barrel Sample. From the first wine estate in Bordeaux 700 years ago, now within urban Bordeaux, this wine has an impressive richness. Already touched by a dark-roast coffee aroma and with dense black fruits, it is dark and firm.

This is ripe and inviting, with high-gloss toast along the edges helping to frame a core of morello cherry, damson plum and black currant fruit. Ink, mesquite and violet notes fill in liberally on the finish. Tilts toward showy in style and will have fans for sure. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2027 through 2040. 16,732 cases made.

Logo on the cork: AL Intense, bright colour. A great nose—fine, subtle and pure. Delicate on the attack, silky in the mid-palate, with a rare flavour and a supple body, the wine develops into a long, juicy, precise finish, and above all shows great aromatic complexity. I tasted it three times with differences between bottles: one had a slight greenness on the nose and on the finish, rated 16.75–17, and the other was regal, rated 18.