Professional reviews
Robert Parker (94)
Aromas of rich cherries, cassis, burning embers, violets and dark chocolate introduce the 2020 Pape Clément, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine that's ripe, layered and generously extracted but also a touch deeper and more reserved than the flashy 2019. While it would be an exaggeration to say that this estate's red wines are making much of a shift in the direction of restraint, the style is certainly less aspirational than it was a decade ago.
James Suckling (98)
Number 59 in the Top 100 from 2023
Lots of blackberry, iodine and crushed stone here. Some black pepper and graphite, too. Full body and medium, fine tannins that have a powdery texture and open in the mouth. So much going on. Iodine and iron undertones with some raw mushroom bring you back for more. Muscular.
Jancis Robinson (16)
Tasted blind. Black core with crimson rim. Smells ripe, dark and sweet-fruited. Severely structured on the palate with not quite enough flesh in the middle. A big wine and really chewy. Very tannic and a bit tough.
Vinous (98)
The 2020 Pape Clément is outrageously beautiful. Dark, virile and imposing, the 2020 is a rare vintage of Pape Clément that is vertical and statuesque in feel. Dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice and cloves infuse the palate with tremendous depth. In a word: magnificent.
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
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.
BOW (8.75)
Falstaff (94)
Deep dark ruby with purple reflections, a dark core, and subtly lighter at the rim. Subtle touches of oak, dark berries, ripe cherry, a touch of plum, and nougat in the background. Complex, ripe cherry, dark chocolate, high tannins and a certain minerality. The wine is a bit brittle and closed at the moment, but shows length and definite ageing potential; still a bit underdeveloped.
Tim Atkin (95)
