CHATEAU PAPE-CLEMENT Grand Vin de Graves BLANC, Pessac-Leognan 2023 Bottle

Description

The 2023 Pape Clément Blanc is a remarkable wine (Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon dominant) that exemplifies elegance and freshness, with James Suckling awarding it 96-97 points. This vintage features a dense and tight structure, showcasing a core of sliced Meyer lemon, lime, and green apple, complemented by a phenolic texture for a compelling mouthfeel. Decanter rated it 95 points, highlighting its vibrant aromas of orange clementine, pink grapefruit, and kiwi, with a focus on citrus and a hint of pineapple on the finish. Vinous awarded it 93-95 points, noting its textural richness and graceful notes of orange peel and dried herbs. Enjoyable now, it promises delightful complexity through 2025 to 2035.

*****

JAMES SUCKLING 96-97 points
Dense and tight with a solid core of sliced Meyer lemon, lime and green apple. It’s full and very compact with a phenolic texture that runs the length of the wine. Slightly chewy, yet, it’s long and persistent with a mineral and bitter citrus undertone at the end.

DECANTER 95 points
Tasted by: Panos Kakaviatos (at Bordeaux, 18 Apr 2024)
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2040
Combining orange clementine, pink grapefruit and kiwi aromas, this is one of the brightest - and most non-opulent Pape Clément whites that I can recall tasting from en primeur. It reminds me a bit of the 2021 vintage. The finish shows a hint of pineapple but the wine is far more citrus driven, with breed and polish, excellent acidity and wet stone mineratlity. I am not sure about 96 points just yet, as it seems just a bit light on its feet for a Pape-Clément. Let's see how the barrel ageing will expand the palate, with a strong potential for a higher score. Tasted twice with similar results.

VINOUS 93-95 points
The 2023 Pape Clément Blanc is another strong vintage for a wine that has been in transition for a few years now. There's still plenty of textural richness in the Blanc, but less of the tropical character and flamboyance of some past years. Orange peel, mint, dried herbs, chamomile and crushed flowers open gracefully. All the elements are so well balanced. Tasted three times. - Antonio Galloni

THE WINE ADVOCATE (91-93) points
Reviewed by: Yohan Castaing
Drink Date: 2025 - 2035
Aromas of white flowers, lemon oil, pomegranate and lemongrass preface the 2023 Pape Clément Blanc, a moderately weighted, sappy, layered and incisive wine with bright acids and a penetrating, mouthwatering finish. In comparison to previous vintages, the use of wood has been scaled back, allowing the wine to express a closer connection to its terroir and achieve greater precision in its aromatic profile. Published: Apr 26, 2024