Château Pape Clément, Cru Classé, Pessac Léognan, 2021
We were mighty impressed by the 2020 Pape Clement, and whilst the 2021 doesn't appear to match its predecessor, it is still a solid effort from Bernard Magrez and his team. Big and quite burly, this packs a punch with plenty of concentrated hedgerow fruit. It is large scale, but there is some poise and a sense of refreshment to the fruit. Framed by imposing tannins, which do dominate at this stage, but they are ripe and point towards a successful future. 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot.
critic reviews
A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Pape Clement has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It tumbles out of the glass with notions of plum preserves and Morello cherries, giving way to hints of cardamom, wild mushrooms, and cedar chest, with a hint of crushed rocks. Medium-bodied, the palate is satiny and invigorating, with bright red and black fruits and a minerally finish.
Enjoyable in bottle, restrained and elegant with finesse and balance, impressive blackberry, loganberry, liqourice, cocoa bean, crayon and pencil lead, savoury and juicy. Pushing the extraction a little but it works because there is plenty of fruit underneath. 90% French oak barrels, 10% large oak casks for ageing. Can age, but has a suppleness that means I would not worry about waiting too long.
The 2021 Pape-Clément, which was 90% aged in barrel (two-thirds new), 10% in foudres, was quite a different kettle of fish when I tasted it en primeur, much more classical in style compared to recent vintages. Now in bottle, there is a gulf in quality between this and the Deuxième Vin on the nose—far more fruit, mulberry and raspberry, light cedar and humidor scents and just a touch of lavender. The palate is medium-bodied with firm but not obtrusive tannins. There is but a fraction of the fruit compared to the 2019 or 2020, yet it retains balance and there is an attractive sapidity toward the finish. This is one of those wines that will never reach great heights but will give pleasure over the next 15 or 20 years.
The 2021 Pape Clement exhibits notions of sweet berries and cherries mingled with rich aromas of espresso roast, black truffles, toasty new oak and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, deep and quite extracted in style, it's a rich, fleshy wine that gained in integration and harmony over the the three weeks I spent in Bordeaux. Tasted three times.