Château Pape Clément Red 2018
Grand Cru Classé de Graves
A wine of great character, with notes of plum, very ripe black berries, violets and cocoa, full and powerful, impeccably taut on the roundness of its flesh, exemplary ripeness and a long, drawn-out finish.
Features
Appellation: Pessac Léognan
Location: Pessac
Surface area: 67 hectares
2018 blend: 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 52% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
Age of vines: 27 years
Planting density: 7,700 vines per hectare
Tasting
"The nose is fruity, racy and offers power, a very fine tight grain as well as complexity. Notes of full-bodied boysenberry, full-bodied strawberry and, to a lesser extent, full-bodied blackcurrant are combined with fine touches of violet, iris, violet plum, blackberry, very discreet hints of licorice stick/mentholated licorice, vanilla and an imperceptible hint of blond tobacco and toastiness. Fruity, balanced, silky and melodious on the palate, with lovely definition, fine grain, power, minerality and smoothness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of boysenberry, full-bodied blackcurrant and, more lightly, strawberry, combined with hints of flowers, licorice, chocolate and toast, as well as very fine hints of hazelnut, chocolate and a touch of vanilla (in the background). Fine, elegant tannins. Very fine chewiness on the finish (pleasant and greedy). Good length and persistence. An imperceptible hint of toasted bread/almond on the finish.
Jacques Perrin
Food & wine pairing
- Red meat
- Simmered dishes
- Cheeses
- Mushroom dishes
Conservation
15-25 years
Ratings & Awards
- 97/100
James Suckling
- 96/100
Wine Spectator
- 95/100
Yves Beck
Winegrowing singularities
Wine Singularities
Climate
- Grape varieties: 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
- Age of vines: 27 years
- Planting density: 7,700 plants per hectare
- Soil type: Pyrenean clay gravel layer dating from the late Pliocene and early Quaternary periods
- Vineyard management :
- Micro-parcel management
- Controlled weeding, cavaillons worked by animal-drawn ploughing
- Integrated pest management, vigor balance management
- Disbudding, pruning and green harvesting
- Manual harvesting in small crates
- Terra Vitis, HVE3 (High Environmental Value Level 3) and EMS certification
Vinification :
- First sorting in the vineyard
- Grain-by-grain manual de-stemming and table sorting
- Gravity-fed into 30 to 70 hl wooden vats
- Pre-fermentation maceration at a low temperature of 8°C
- Manual punching of the cap
- 30-day maceration
- Direct run-off into French oak barrels and foudres by gravity
- Malolactic fermentation in barrels (2/3 new and 1/3 one-wine)
- Aged 16 months in French oak barrels (90%) and foudres (10%)
The 2018 vintage in the prestigious Pessac-Léognan terroir was shaped by singular weather conditions. In spring, rainfall was well-balanced, favoring regular flowering and promising fruit set. The summer that followed was characterized by warm, sunny temperatures, creating an environment conducive to rapid, optimal ripening of the grapes. Relatively cool nights preserved the grapes' natural acidity, giving them freshness and balance. In addition, moderate rainfall helped limit the risk of disease, ensuring optimal vine health right up to harvest. Overall, these exceptional weather conditions produced wines of remarkable quality, characterized by exuberant fruit expression and harmonious structure. The 2018 vintage thus embodies the excellence and authenticity of Pessac-Léognan, offering connoisseurs a refined and memorable taste experience.
Our know-how
Expertise unique aimed at excellence
Our actions in favor of the environment
For a more sustainable future of wine, we preserve the terroirs of our Vineyards.
