Château Pape Clément 2020

Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

VertdeVin

On the nose, elegant, aromatic, racy and offers a little complexity, some power (in delicacy). With notes of pulpy wild blackcurrant, strawberry and more lightly of small black berries associated with touches of cherry, bright purple plum as well as points of racy minerality, camphor, star anise, fine points of lilac and pepper. The palate is fruity, balanced and offers juiciness, smoothness, straightness as well as a certain tension, a nice acidic frame, a certain power (in softness) and a little compact/tight side. On the palate, expressing notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry, red currant and more lightly bright cherry associated with touches of purple plum, tart blueberry as well as racy minerality, star anise, zan, discreet vanilla, an imperceptible hint of fresh blond tobacco and crushed almond. The tannins are massive, well conducted, numerous, and relatively mellow. Good length. Congratulations!

Andreas Larsson - Tasted

Pure and aromatic nose with bay leaf, sage blending red and dark fruit. The palate shows its usual concentration and depth with fine layers, refined tannin, a good dose of freshness underneath and a brilliantly long finish.

Falstaff

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections. Attractive fresh cherry fruit, dark wild berries, cassis, fine oak spices and fine tobacco nuances; a multi-faceted bouquet. Juicy, complex, very elegant, has freshness and ripe tannins, mineral and very persistent with great balance and length. Despite its youth it is already very seductive but will mature for many years.

Adrian van Velsen - vvWine.ch

James Suckling

Superb aromas of blackberries, crushed stones, iodine and graphite. Full-bodied with ultra fine tannins and a balanced finish. Such length and beauty. Very close to the 2019 in quality.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Pape Clement comes barreling out of the glass with bold notes of cassis, plum preserves and licorice, giving way to scents of cedar chest, crushed rocks, charcoal and pencil lead. The medium to full-bodied palate is tightly coiled with beautiful tension and a firm, finely grained texture locking in the layers of black fruits and minerals, finishing with great length and energy. The blend this year is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot, aging mainly in French oak barriques, 66% new, with about 10% aging in large oak foudres. The wine will spend approximately 18 months in barrels.

Jeb Dunnuck

I loved the 2020 Château Pape Clément, and this beauty is up there with the top wines in Pessac. Checking in as equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged 18 months in 90% barrels and 10% in foudre, it offers a deep purple hue to go with a powerful, concentrated profile displaying both red and black fruits, lots of spicy, chocolate, flowery incense nuances, full-bodied richness, and an almost salty, bloody character on the finish. This beauty shows the concentrated yet utterly classic, focused, elegant style of the vintage and has so much to love. It's going to be even better with 4-6 years of bottle age and will see its 30th birthday in fine form.