Château PAPE CLÉMENT 2018
In Pessac, Château Pape Clément is among the most emblematic historic estates of the Pessac-Léognan appellation. Its origin dates back to the 13th century and its name preserves the memory of Bertrand de Goth, Archbishop of Bordeaux who became pope under the name Clement V. Today owned by Bernard Magrez, the estate is classified as a Grand Cru Classé of Graves and has a red vineyard of about 67 hectares. The vines rest on a bed of Pyrenean clayey gravel formed at the end of the Pliocene and early Quaternary, a terroir that favors drainage, rooting depth, and regular ripening. The planting density reaches about 7,700 vines per hectare and the average age of the vines was 27 years for this vintage. The vineyard is managed with a micro-parcel approach combining soil work, grass cover control, and manual harvesting. The 2018 vintage expresses this terroir in a generous, deep, and particularly ripe style, while maintaining the characteristic tension of the great reds of Pessac-Léognan.
Château Pape Clément 2018 blends 52% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. After an initial sorting in the vineyards, the grapes undergo meticulous selection in the cellar before being gravity-fed into small wooden vats. A pre-fermentation cold maceration precedes fermentation, accompanied by manual punch-downs and a total maceration of about thirty days. After gravity draining, malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels, two-thirds new and one-third previously used for wine. Aging continues for sixteen months, 90% in barrels and 10% in French oak vats. This ambitious structure naturally supports the vintage's power without overshadowing the fruit's depth. The result combines concentration, tannic maturity, and a mineral framework that adds length to the whole.
The color shows a deep purple, almost opaque in its youth. The bouquet develops with blackberry, blackcurrant, and black plum, complemented by violet, licorice, and cocoa nuances. With aeration, notes of blond tobacco, toasted wood, and spices appear, integrated with particularly ripe fruit. The palate is ample and silky, with dense matter supported by fine and progressively enveloping tannins. Merlot brings volume and smoothness, while Cabernet Sauvignon structures the mid-palate and extends the finish. Notes of dark chocolate, black fruits, and graphite linger long after tasting, in a powerful yet balanced style. Château Pape Clément 2018 will accompany a rib of beef, a rack of lamb, roasted pigeon, venison fillet, or dishes with porcini mushrooms and black truffle.
Grape varieties: 52% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
