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  • Nick's Import

2016 Chateau Pape Clement

Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, FRANCE
$210. 00
Bottle
$2520.00 Dozen
Cellar: 10 - 12 Years (2029-2031)
ABV: 14%
Closure: Cork

Named after its most famous owner, Pope Clement V, Chateau Pape Clement in Pessac Leognan makes both red and white wine from their 32.5 hectare vineyard. Vineyards for the red are planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, while the soils here are a complex mix of gravel and clay over a base of clay, limestone and sandstone. Maturation takes place in 100% new French oak, and while Bernard Magrez has refined the style since taking over winemaking duties the wines are still rich and lush in style with a concentration of ripe fruit.

Impressively coloured the 2016 Pape Clement has an impenetrable inky black core and a very deep dark red black hue. Soaring from the glass are heady aromatics of ripe blackcurrant and liquorice tempered by hints of violets with toasty vanillin cedar, subtle graphite notes, black olive, light dried tobacco and spicy herb notes ensuing. Rich, seductive blackcurrant and liquorice fruit has a pillowy feel, underpinned by elements of cigar box, dried herbs, tobacco, subtle black olive, scorched earth, graphite and spice. Framing the opulent fruit are seamlessly integrated yet superbly structured tannins that are velvet like in their appearance. Outstanding power finishing gloriously long and finessed. This is one of the richer and more open 2016’s and will have a wide drinking window.
Cellar 10-12 years.
Alc. 14%

Other Reviews....
Blended of 60% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Pape Clement has a deep garnet-purple color and quite a serious, earthy nose with truffles, tilled soil, underbrush and smoked meats over a cassis, baked plums and redcurrants core plus a touch of lavender. Medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy, the palate is built like a brick house, supporting muscular black fruit and earthy notions and finishing very long and mineral laced.
96 points
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate

Stunning concentration of perfectly ripe blackcurrants here with a delicate whiff of vanilla oak and extremely fine tannins that are almost perfectly integrated on the seductive and delicate palate, right through the almost literally breathtaking, super-long and very polished finish. Try from 2022.
98 points
James Suckling

The 2016 Pape Clément bursts out of the glass, offering ripe blackberry, raspberry coulis, fresh mint and hints of licorice on the well-defined nose. It is perhaps a little more opulent than its peers, but unlike in the past, I don’t find it excessive. The palate is well balanced with supple tannin. There is a killer line of acidity and real panache toward a velvety, almost Pauillac-like finish armed with shimmering black fruit laced with graphite. Superb.
96 points
Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2016 Pape Clément is fabulous. Racy and sumptuous in the glass, the 2016 captures the style that now characterizes Bernard Magrez's wines from his estate in Pessac. Specifically, the 2016 is wonderfully deep in the glass, and yet retains terrific freshness as well. A rush of dark cherry, plum, smoke, scorched earth, grilled herb, leather and menthol builds as the 2016 shows off its compelling, inviting personality. I would prefer to give the 2016 at least a few years in bottle to allow its full breadth of aromatics to develop. Even so, there is so much to like. Pliant, supple and super-expressive, Pape Clément is gorgeous in 2016. Tasted two times.
96 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous

Tasted on two separate occasions, the 2016 Château Pape Clément never failed to impress, offering a huge, powerful, full-bodied personality as well as beautiful notes of cassis, graphite, high-class cigar tobacco, asphalt, and graphite. About as sexy as it gets in the vintage, with silky tannins and loads of fruit, it’s perfectly balanced and has a great finish. The 2016 is a blend of 60% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, all raised in 60% new barrels.
97 points
Jeb Dunnuck