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Pape Clément 2010

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pessac-Léognan
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Sauvignon

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Pape Clément

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Tasting Notes

I certainly underrated the 2010 Pape Clement from barrel, rating it only 93-95+. (Thank God I put a "plus" there!) Having tasted it four times in Bordeaux, and rating it perfect three times and 99 the fourth time, this final blend of 51% Merlot, 47.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1.5% Petit Verdot is perfection in a bottle. Tipping the scales at 14.5% natural alcohol, there are 8,000 cases of it. Its sublime elegance, the power, the medium to full-bodied texture, the silky tannins, the subtle notes of smoke, lead pencil shavings, black currants, charcoal, camphor, blueberry and cassis fruit are all remarkable. It is a rich, full-throttle wine, but the elegance and the great terroir of Pape Clement come through in abundance. It is slightly more developed and evolved than the 2005 was at a similar point in its evolution, but it certainly needs another 5-7 years to develop further nuances, which it surely will. This wine will last 30-40+ years.

Kudos to proprietor Bernard Magrez, who has built an empire based on high quality more than any other characteristic

100
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (205), March 2013

Intense blueberry nose with great precision and expression. Full and vibrant on the palate with a minty note. Vanilla. Wonderful structure. Firm but ripe tannins and very long. Needs time to soften. Great potential. Try in 2016.

96
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2013

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Pape Clement comes wafting sensuously from the glass with fragrant notions of dried roses, Chinese five spice and sandalwood over a core of kirsch, warm cassis and plum preserves plus a touch of cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is finely crafted with a firm line of ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the perfumed fruit through the incredibly long finish. 2020-2055

100
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (March 2020), March 2020

Inky depths to the colour, barely budging at 11 years old. This is excellent, showing the incredible potential of this site. Everything is delivered slowly and carefully, plenty of tannic grip, very little evolution in the expression, the whole thing inching forward. A ton of liqourice and slate, with the smoke and grilled herb quality that you find so often in Pape Clement, alongside layer upon complex layer of graphite, pencil lead, cassis and marzipan. 100% new oak. Michel Rolland consultant. Harvest September 24 to October 20, slow and steady with a yield of 32hl/h.

97
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, November 2021

Very dark with even a hint of brown. Direct and leathery on the nose. Then very sweet - almost right-bank sweetness - but then it returns to acidity and fine tannin. A dramatic even if not-that-comfortable wine. Almost too drying on the finish but it works in the end. Slightly tarry finish. Not the most succulent.

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2011

Superb concentration of ripe Cabernet fruit, slightly smoky, potentially very complex, wonderful presence and richness on the palate, ripeness and tannins in complete harmony, very good indeed and a great future. Drink 2015-30.

18.5
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2011
Read more tasting notes...

Bernard Magrez's flagship estate continues to produce consistently beautiful wines and that includes his sensational 2010. The fruit was harvested between September 24 and October 20, and the result is an opaque purple-colored blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that achieved 13.5% alcohol naturally. Subtle notions of smoke, graphite, oak, black cherries and blackberries jump from the glass of this impressively perfumed claret. Medium to full-bodied, strikingly elegant and less thick and intense than a structured vintage such as 2005, the 2010 possesses remarkably sweet tannin (sweeter than the 2005) as well as a full-bodied, long finish. It should be drinkable at an early age and keep for 20-25 years.

93/95+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (194), May 2011

Tasted at the UGC in London and then at the chateau. The Grand Vin is a blend of 51% Merlot, 47.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1.5% Petit Verdot and bottled after 18 months in barrel (80% new oak) without fining or filtration. It has a relatively understated, again quite "classic" bouquet that is very "Graves" in style - a little earthy with hints of tobacco and cedar. The aromatics gain some momentum in the glass, offering a black olive tapenade. The palate is medium-bodied with a very supple entry. Again, I appreciate the acidity to this Pape Clement that binds those dusky, earthy black fruit together and then it builds nicely towards the peppery finish. This Pape Clement effortlessly conveys its terroir - excellent. Tasted November 2012.

95
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2013

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. The nose is very pure with blackberry, blueberry, crushed stone and a touch of dried flowers. Good definition. There is a slight sorbet note coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fully ripe tannins, firm grip and layers of sweet black, liquorice and spice infused fruit. A little oaky on the finish but that is to be expected. Very rounded and sensual, but I prefer the tension demonstrated by the nascent 2010. Tasted October 2011.

93
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, December 2011

Tasted three times, the Pape-Clement '10 is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot, this has a surprisingly conservative bouquet but with very fine delineation and clarity. Blackberry and a touch of briary. The palate is very well balanced, very fine tannins and superb tension, the acidity lending this great poise and freshness. Good grip on the finish, this is an outstanding Pape-Clement. Tasted March 2011.

94/96
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2011

Very chewy, with wonderful blueberry and mineral character. Hints of mint too. Full and super classy. Love the texture of the tannins. Hyper-refined in texture

96/97
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2011
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.