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: 2017 Pape Clément, Pessac-Léognan

2017 Pape Clément, Pessac-Léognan (Pre-Arrival)

SKU #1355639 96 points James Suckling

Outer quote mark Beautiful spice, tobacco, wet earth and blackcurrants with some raspberries. Aromatic and complex. Full-bodied, refined and layered with wonderful length and power. Yet, there’s always class and pretty length here. Seamless. Inner quote mark (1/2020)

96 points Vinous

Outer quote mark The 2017 Pape Clément is outrageously beautiful. Rich, deep and luscious on the palate, the 2017 possesses tremendous energy and richness from start to finish. Sweet red cherry, red plum, blood orange, spice and herb notes abound in an unctuous, racy wine of the highest level. The 2017 is deep, explosive and wonderfully persistent. It has been terrific on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. (AG) Inner quote mark (3/2020)

94 points Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Pape Clement is composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot, with a nose that is slightly closed at this youthful stage—broody and earthy with baked plums, boysenberries and mulberries aromas plus touches of iron ore, tobacco, tapenade and charcuterie. The palate is medium-bodied and elegant with exquisitely ripe tannins, lovely energy and freshness and a long, mineral-laced finish. (LPB) 94+ Inner quote mark (3/2020)

94 points Wine Enthusiast

Outer quote mark This solid, densely textured wine has fine tannins that match richness in the blackberry fruits. It is classically structured, suggesting an elegant, ripe and impressive future. *Cellar Selection* (RV) Inner quote mark (3/2020)

91-94 points Wine Spectator

Outer quote mark This has solid ripeness, with plum and cassis notes flowing through, along with an ambitious oak regimen that results in ample toasted vanilla hints. This clamps down a touch on the finish, but there’s good purity and freshness, with fresh acidity buried within, leaving me optimistic. (JM) Inner quote mark (4/2018)

93 points Jeb Dunnuck

Outer quote mark Checking in as a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot that was brought up in 60% new French oak, the 2017 Chateau Pape Clement is going to check in behind the brilliant 2015 and 2016, but it's nevertheless a brilliant wine from this estate worth having in the cellar. Great notes of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, gravelly earth, mocha, and hints of licorice all flow to a medium to full-bodied wine that has remarkable purity of fruit as well as polished tannins. It builds nicely with time in the glass and reminds me of a toned-down version of the 2016. This complex, elegant, flawlessly balanced Pessac can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 15-20 years. Inner quote mark (2/2020)

92 points Decanter

Outer quote mark I have found that Magrez estates have done exceptionally well in 2017, pretty much across the board, but here I feel a reach towards the barrel that is just the slightest bit out of step with the ripeness of the fruit. The tannins are flexible and in control, but it just lacks a touch of the opulence in the black fruits that was so abundant in 2015 and 2016. There is no doubt that it has been very well constructed, and it will age confidently in the medium to long term. (JA) Inner quote mark (4/2018)

Jancis Robinson

Outer quote mark Deepest crimson. Rich, ripe and generously fruited on the nose. Blackcurrant and blackberry. Chewy, deep fruited but no lack of finesse thanks to the smoothness of the tannins even though they are compact. Seems more delicate and fresher than the Pape Clément norm -- a good thing in my opinion. Long and should age well. (JH) 17/20 Inner quote mark (10/2019)

K&L Notes

94 points Neal Martin for Vinous: "The 2017 Pape-Clément was tasted twice, firstly in September when it showed a lot of new oak. Returning in December 2019, I was pleased that some of that new wood has been subsumed into the blackberry, cedar and tobacco scents, rendering it quite classic in style relative to the nascent 2018. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, well judged acidity, and gentle grip with a poised finish. This is clearly improving in bottle and is turning into a very fine Pessac-Léognan that will give 20 years of drinking pleasure. Excellent." (02/2020)

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2017 Pape Clément, Pessac-Léognan

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By: Ralph Sands | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 5/18/2018 | Send Email

2017 Ch. Pape Clement is a blend of 49%CS 48M 2PV 1CF. Lots of dark, concentrated black fruit on display here with plenty of structure and oak. This wine will need cellaring. Ralph Sands

Additional Information:

Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

- Cabernet Sauvignon has come a long way from its role as a blending varietal, however dominant, in the wines of Bordeaux. Today it is the most planted red varietal in the world. Identified as a descendent of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be planted in warmer climates to fully ripen. Its small berries can easily be identified for their distinctive blue color, thick skins and high tannins. And while the varietal has its own definitive characteristics: green pepper-like aromas and black currant flavors among them, it is perhaps most prized for its ability to convey terroir, vintage and winemaking. A relatively new varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon started making inroads into the wines of the Médoc and Graves in the late-18th century. Today it is also dominant in the up-and-coming Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux and can also be found in Southwest France. It is the companion varietal to Sangiovese in Italy's Super Tuscans and is planted all over Europe, stretching to lesser-known winegrowing regions like Russia and Lebanon. In the Americas Cabernet Sauvignon has found champions in every nook and cranny of California and among winemakers in Washington, where it complements plantings of Merlot. In South America, Cab thrives in Chile, but can also be found in smaller amounts in Argentina and even in Mexico.

Country:

France

- When it comes to wine, France stands alone. No other country can beat it in terms of quality and diversity. And while many of its Region, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne most obviously, produce wine as rare, as sought-after and nearly as expensive as gold, there are just as many obscurities and values to be had from little known appellations throughout the country. To learn everything there is to know about French wine would take a lifetime. To understand and appreciate French wine, one only has to begin tasting them.

Sub-Region:

Bordeaux

Specific Appellation:

Pessac-Leognan/Graves

- Graves is the large red and white wine region located to the southeast of the city of Bordeaux along the Garonne River. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the red wines from the area, while the whites are mixtures of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. The most important area within the Graves is the village of Pessac-Leognan. Most of the great chateaux, including Haut Brion, a premier cru and the only wine outside of the Medoc to be included in the 1855 Classification, are located in this small appellation. Graves derives its name from the rocky, stony terrain of the region. Many people believe that the stony soil radiates the day's heat at night and thus makes the grapes ripen earlier than the other regions in Bordeaux.