Château Pape Clément 2016

A Pessac-Léognan red wine of great elegance

The property

Located at the gates of Bordeaux, the Château Pape Clément is one of the oldest wine estates in the region, with the first harvest taking place in 1252. Château Pape Clément owes its name to Pope Clement V who passionately managed his vineyard before donating it to the Archbishop of Bordeaux. At that time, it was referred to as the "Vines of Pope Clement". In 1983, Bernard Magrez, the tireless builder and composer of rare wines, bought the property. Bernard Magrez, who now owns 4 Grands Crus Classés in Bordeaux, uses all his energy and determination to elevate Château Pape Clément to the elite of Bordeaux's Grands Crus. In 2009, Château Pape Clément was notably awarded a score of 100/100 by American critic Robert Parker.

The vineyard

Enjoying an exceptional terroir in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, the vineyard of Château Pape Clément covers 46.5 hectares. The vines, averaging 31 years old, are planted on Pyrenean clayey gravel soils. The vineyard is managed on a micro-plot basis. The Château Pape Clément estate is certified High Environmental Value 3.

The vintage

A mild and wet winter precedes a cool spring marked by high rainfall. If these conditions delay the development of the vine, the flowering is miraculous thanks to a few quite warm and sunny days. From June 20th, a hot and particularly dry summer sets in, leading to a significant water deficit. The rains of September 13th are salvific and, with the help of a strong thermal amplitude, ensure optimal ripening of the berries until the harvest.

Vinification and aging

Manual harvesting is carried out on a plot-by-plot basis in crates, with a first sorting in the vineyard. Following manual destemming and a second sorting on the table, the berries are gravity-fed into wooden vats of 30 to 70 hl. Pre-fermentation maceration at low temperature. Manual punch-downs accompany the maceration lasting 30 to 40 days to refine the extraction. Direct racking into French oak barrels by gravity. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in barrels, as is the 18-month aging.

Blend

Cabernet sauvignon (50%)
Merlot (50%).

Characteristics and tasting advice for Château Pape Clément red 2016

Tasting

Color
Bright, the color reveals a beautiful purple hue.

Nose
Expressive, the nose blends fruity fragrances (blackcurrant, blackberries, cherries) and floral notes (violet, licorice).

Palate
Of great elegance, the palate seduces with its fine tannins, its remarkable freshness and its exceptional length, signs of a vintage with great aging potential.