Château Pape Clément, Blanc, Pessac Léognan,

If you had to pick one wine that would not be afraid of the excess of the vintage, it would be Pape Clement, and certainly here they have leaned into it without being overpowered. Plenty of citrus, lemon curd, white peach and sage. Structured also, with great balance within the estate signature, helped by an attractive bitter edge on the finish. 35hl/h yield, harvest August 28 to September 2. Tasted twice.

The 2022 Pape Clement Blanc is a blend of 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Semillon, and 2% Muscadelle with a yield of 35 hl/ha. It bursts with bold notes of apricots, poached pears, and lemon tart, plus wafts of honeysuckle, cedar, and dill seed. The medium-bodied palate is packed with vibrant apricot and pear flavors, with a racy backbone leading to a long, spicy finish.

The 2022 Pape Clément Blanc was cropped at 35hL/ha between 28 August and 2 September and matured in under 20% new oak. It is very fragrant on the nose, with lemon verbena, white peach and honeysuckle scents. Really fine definition and sense of focus. The palate is well balanced, a little steelier and more linear than recent vintages with plenty of tension on the saline finish. This should age well in bottle.