Chateau Pape Clement - Pessac Leognan Blanc 2018

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96 Points, Wine Spectator "A beauty from the start, with shortbread, acacia and honeysuckle details leading the way, quickly followed by fennel, tarragon, salted butter and lemon peel notes. Long, focused finish is carried by superfine acidity that puts everything in perfect lock step. Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle. Best from 2022 through 2030."

Chateau Pape Clement Description

Château Pape Clément / PESSAC-LÉOGNAN / CRU CLASSÉ DE GRAVES

Few great wines can boast seven centuries of history and trace their origins back to a pope.
Elected supreme pontiff during the reign of King Philip the Handsome in 1305, Clement V gave his name to Château Pape Clément.

The present owner does his utmost to perpetuate the ancient tradition of quality. Among other innovations, this was the first estate in Bordeaux to destem the entire crop by hand. The grapes are transported by gravity flow into small oak fermentation vats adapted to the yield of each plot. The entire winemaking process is conducted with minute attention to detail. Combining traditional and state-of-the-art techniques, Pape Clément is made according to the highest standards.

Everything is done in the vineyard to let the terroir express itself fully. As part of an environmentally-friendly approach, chemical weed killers have been abandoned in favour of ploughing.

Production
Red wine: 110,000 bottles / White wine: 10,000 bottles

Grape varieties
Red wine:
49% Merlot / 46% Cabernet Sauvignon / 3% Cabernet franc / 2% Petit Verdot

White wine:
45% Sauvignon / 45% Sémillon / 5% Muscadelle / 5% Sauvignon gris

James Suckling: 98 Points

Beautiful aromas of lime curd, dried pear, grilled white peach and flint on the nose. So exotic on the nose. Some cream and honey, too. It’s medium-bodied with bright, tangy acidity. Creamy and focused with lingering dried-citrus and crushed-gravel notes. Long.

Wine Spectator: 96 Points

A beauty from the start, with shortbread, acacia and honeysuckle details leading the way, quickly followed by fennel, tarragon, salted butter and lemon peel notes. Long, focused finish is carried by superfine acidity that puts everything in perfect lock step. Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle. Best from 2022 through 2030.

Wine Enthusiast: 96 Points

Always high on the richness scale, this estate’s white wine is vibrant with white fruits and hints of apricots. It is structured with wood aging and a tight texture that shows that the wine needs to age. The wine will be ready to drink from 2023.