Ch.Pape Clement Blanc 2013 ex-ch 750ml

Wine Advocate #Oct 29, 2016
The 2013 Pape Clement Blanc does not quite deliver the precision of the Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc 2013 this year, the oak is still quite pronounced and eroding some of the detail. The palate is well balanced with lime and citrus peel on the entry, hints of toffee apple emerging towards the finish that, again, feels a little oaky. I was hoping for more after the commendable 2013 Pape Clement Rouge, though it still might appeal to those who like their white Bordeaux with a hedonistic bent.

Château Pape Clément is a Cru Classé Graves property that has one of the oldest documented histories of any Bordeaux vineyard, having been planted in 1300 by Bernard de Groth, the future Pope Clément V. In 1939 the estate was bought by the Montagne family and is now owned and run by Léo Montagne.
Pape Clément is located in the Bordeaux suburb of Pessac and consists of a chai and 32 hectares of vineyards, planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (40%) and small amounts of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle.
The quality of the wines at Pape Clément slipped in the 1960s and 70s, largely because of under-investment. Bernard Magrez was appointed as general manager in 1985 and he turned Pape Clément's fortunes around. He introduced more rigorous selection in the vineyards, as well as installing stainless steel vats and raising the percentage of new oak casks used in the maturation process.
Pape Clément now produces one of the finest clarets in Pessac-Léognan.