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Pape Clément 1998

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

Label

Tasting Notes

A prodigious effort from Pape Clement, this wine is smokin'! It boasts a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a terrific nose of charcoal, blackberries, cassis, tobacco, minerals, and spice. This brilliantly-focused, medium to full-bodied 1998 already reveals a boatload of complexity as well as a remarkably long finish. A large-sized effort for this estate, it exhibits a sweet mid-palate and ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2025. Bravo!

93
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (4), December 2003

Dark but shaded. More smudgy and Graves-like than the wine before it (which was in fact Haut Brion) but rich and velvety and lots of pleasure. Quite different from Haut Brion. Gorgeous!!!

18.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2006
96
Farr Vintners, March 2006
Read more tasting notes...
93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (134), April 2001
90/92
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (128), April 2000
89/91
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (122), April 1999

This property has been making superb wines since its renaissance in the mid 1980's. The 1998 has been produced from 50% Merlot, with 90% of the production being matured in new oak barrels. Bernard Pujol believes it to be the best Pape Clement since 1990. Rich, opulent and exotic with a velvety texture. Really beautiful.
(FV 18) POSTSCRIPT - In Spring 2006 at a blind tasting of all the 1998 Graves and Right Bank wines this came second overall (to Petrus) and beat Haut Brion, La Mission, Le Pin, Cheval Blanc, Ausone, etc, etc.

Farr Vintners, April 1999
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.