Pape Clement Rouge 2019 (750ML)

98 JD / 97 VM / 97 JS / 97 WCI / 96 JA / 96 WI / 96 FS / 95 DE / 95 WE / 94 WA / 94 WS / 17+ JR

As to the Grand Vin 2019 Château Pape Clement, it reveals a dense purple hue to go with stunning aromatics of crème de cassis, graphite, lead pencils shavings, scorched earth, and tobacco. Beautifully balanced, with flawless tannins, this full-bodied Pessac has that rare mix of elegance and power, a great mid-palate, and again, perfect balance. It's one of the gems of the vintage and has some accessibility today given its purity and balance, yet deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will cruise for 20-25 years or more in cold cellars. The blend is equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, brought up in two-thirds new French oak. - Jeb Dunnuck

The 2019 Pape Clément is just as impressive as it was en primeur. It shows all of the textural richness that is so typical of Bernard Magrez's wines, but with an extra kick of freshness that provides energy as well as a sense of proportion. A wine of stature, the 2019 is so classy. Succulent black cherry, plum, mocha, new leather and licorice are all beautifully delineated. But more than anything else, I find the wine's energy really impressive. This is a fabulous vintage for Pape Clément. Tasted two times. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Crushed-stone and berry aromas with some blackberry and black-tea character. Just a touch of smokiness. Sweet fruit, too. This is so refined, subtle, and beautiful for Pape with full body, ultra-fine tannins and a succulent finish. The center-palate is dense and complete. Goes on for minutes. So subtle and refined, focused and classy. Try after 2026. - James Suckling

Almost opaque in color, the wine kicks off with an intense array of smoke, tobacco, cigar box, flowers, spice, dark plums and blackberry aromas. On the palate, the wine is rich, lush, polished, full-bodied, deep, long and fresh. The finish crosses the 50 second mark with ease, leaving you with opulently-textured, layers of perfectly ripe, sensuous, rich, dark fruits. Because the amount of oak has been decreased during the aging process, the fruit is allowed to shine front and center, allowing for more vibrancy and purity. This is a top vintage of Pape Clement that clearly merits your attention. Drink from 2030-2060.-Jeff Leve, Wine Cellar Insider

Raspberry puree, concentrated loganberry and black cherry alongside peony and rosebud flowers, still extremely concentrated with knitted-together tannins. Great quality and potential, a little more severe and austere than the 2018 at this point, needs a good five years in bottle. Harvest September 17 to Ocotber 10, A (one point) upscore from En Primeur. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Made up of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot, the 2019 Pape Clement is medium to deep garnet-purple colored. It needs coaxing to unlock cassis, plum preserves, and licorice notes with hints of tar, wild sage, and tobacco. The medium-bodied palate is elegant and lively with soft, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral-laced. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

Deep dark ruby colour with an opaque core, purple reflections and a subtle bright rim. Black cherry fruit with a hint of cassis, liquorice, tangerine zest and fine nougat is underlaid with a fine oak note. Juicy, pronounced fruit on the palate and elegant, ripe tannins with a fresh structure. There are ripe cherries on the finish, mineral-salty with very good length and balance. It has a great future ahead of it with sure ageing potential.-Peter Moser, Falstaff

Density in all aspects here, quite a rich, broad and bold style but with precision, clarity and definition. It's big shouldered with plenty of heft and ripe fruit but well presented with great acidity that keeps the freshness from start to finish and this has a nice cooling minty aspect towards the finish. Tannins are firm, and still very present, needing to soften a little over time but this definitely has the weight, structure and fruit purity to have a long life ahead.-Georgina Hindle, Decanter

Created by the 14th-century Pope, Clement V, this estate is now owned by Bernard Magrez. This latest release shows the quality of the property, a wine that is set for long aging. Ripe black fruits are matched by the wine's structure and density. Drink from 2026. - Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast

The 2019 Pape Clément has turned out well in bottle, delivering a rich bouquet of cherries, blackcurrants, plum liqueur and blackberries mingled with notions of burning embers, licorice and a nicely integrated framing of new oak. Full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's a layered, fleshy wine, with a deep core of ripe but lively fruit, plenty of powdery tannin and a long, expansive, discreetly heady finish. This is a powerful, dramatic Pessac with a transatlantic accent and will drink well with only a few years' bottle age. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

Quite rich, with an exotic hint to the boysenberry, plum and mulberry fruit flavors, which are carried by a velvety structure. Features a very stylish backdrop of apple wood, anise and fruitcake notes that adds more bling. This doesn't have the drive for serious cellaring, but it's still pretty gorgeous. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2023 through 2035. 16,650 cases made.-James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Black core and inky rim. Intense, sweet aroma of damson and black cherry. Dark, rich and also sweet/sour. The tannins are thick and a little furry. Full-flavoured and surprisingly fresh but needs time to become more elegant and shed the powerfully thick tannin texture. -Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson