Château Pape Clément Red 2019

Grand Cru Classé de Graves

Pape-Clément 2019 was harvested between September 17 and October 10, and underwent 30 days of maceration. It was aged for 18 months in 90% oak barrels and 10% wooden foudres. It has a highly perfumed bouquet of savory black cherries and boysenberry fruit, with hints of raspberry jam and crème de cassis. The palate is full-bodied and quite muscular, exerting a firm grip and displaying plenty of tobacco-tinged black fruits that melt into a saltier, sea-influenced finish. This is a very serious Pape-Clément that will require longer aging than its peers, but will surely be rewarding for those with patience.

Features

  • Appellation: Pessac Léognan
  • Location: Pessac
  • Surface area: 65.5 hectares
  • 2019 blend: 54% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5% Petit Verdot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc
  • Age of vines: 28 years
  • Planting density: 7,700 plants per hectare
  • Harvest date: September 18 to October 11, 2019
  • Bottling: Summer 2021
  • Consulting oenologist: Michel Rolland

Tasting

"The intense nose of blackcurrant and blackberry develops a spicy complexity. From the suave attack, the wine unfurls an impressive velvety framework: a silky texture with melted tannins, bursting with full, fleshy aromas of juicy black fruit, toasty notes and floral iris. A concentrated, dense wine with magnificent balance. The finish is fruity and floral, with hints of marigold and spicy freshness. A signature Pape Clément, racy and elegant".

Terre de Vins

Food & wine pairing

  • Red meat
  • Truffle dishes
  • Cheeses
  • Game dishes (wild boar, deer)

Conservation

15-30 years

Product from a High Environmental Value farm

Ratings & Awards

  • 97/100

    James Suckling

  • 98/100

    Wine Advocate

  • 97/100

    Terre de Vins

97/100

James Suckling

"This has attractive aromas and flavors of chocolate, nuts, damp earth, mushrooms and berries, with a full body, round, refined tannins, and a subtle, concentrated finish. Excellent length, in a sophisticated way. Full-bodied at the end."

98/100

Wine Advocate

 "Deep garnet-purple in color, it kicks off with bold, expressive notes of warm cassis, blackberry and black cherry with a touch of clove oil, fertile earth, cedar chest and tar. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers a solid base of firm, ripe, grainy tannins, with plenty of freshness supporting dense black fruits and earthy layers, finishing very long and mineral."

97/100

Terre de Vins

"The intense nose of blackcurrant and blackberry develops a spicy complexity. From the suave attack, the wine unfurls an impressive velvety framework: a silky texture with melted tannins, bursting with full, fleshy aromas of juicy black fruit, toasty notes and floral iris. A concentrated, dense wine with magnificent balance. The finish is fruity and floral, with hints of marigold and spicy freshness. A signature Pape Clément, racy and elegant".

Winegrowing singularities

Wine Singularities

Climate

  • Grape varieties: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
  • Age of vines: 28 years
  • Planting density: 7,700 plants per hectare
  • Soil type: Pyrenean clay gravel layer dating from the late Pliocene and early Quaternary periods
  • Management system Vineyard :
    - Micro-parcel management
    - Controlled weeding, cavaillons worked by animal-drawn ploughing
    - Integrated pest management, vigor balance management
    - Debudding, pruning and green harvesting
    - Manual harvesting in small crates
    - Terra Vitis, HVE3 (High Environmental Value Level 3) and EMS and Bee-Friendly 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 2019 vintage in the prestigious Vineyard of Pessac-Léognan was shaped by remarkable weather conditions. In spring, rainfall was well-balanced, favoring even flowering and promising fruit set. The summer that followed was characterized by sunny days and moderate temperatures, creating an ideal environment for gradual and complete ripening of the grapes. The cool nights preserved the grapes' invigorating natural acidity, bringing freshness and balance to the berries. In addition, controlled rainfall helped to keep the vines healthy right up to harvest. Overall, these exceptional weather conditions produced wines of exceptional quality, characterized by elegant fruit concentration and delicate structure. The 2019 vintage thus stands out as a memorable year for Pessac-Léognan, offering wine lovers a refined and unforgettable 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.

More vintages

error: