Château Pape Clément 2022

Has clearly gained in expression since En Primeur; peach, exotic fruits, flint; powerful and forceful, with a silky texture, a dense fruit core and very good length; echoes with a salty-bitter white grapefruit finish.

This drapes an alluring cape of bitter almond and warmed brioche over a core of lemon curd, white peach and shortbread. Subtle notes of jasmine oil, elderflower and honeysuckle add range through the finish, where there's a long, subtle twinge of quinine buried deeply. The hedonist's white Bordeaux. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Best from 2026 through 2032.

Flowers, pineapples, white peach, and honeysuckle crowd into the perfume. The palate is lush, rich, ripe, creamy, juicy, fruity, and chalky, with a refreshing touch of sea salt on the back end of the concentrated, long, round finish. The wine blends 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Semillon, and 2% Muscadelle. Drink from 2025-2037.

Rose petals and preserved lemons are key to the character, with sage, white pepper spice, liquorice root and a juicy finish. Enjoyed this En Primeur and it remains a seriously good choice – with the Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle both making an impact. 35 hl/ha yield, harvest August 28 to September 2.

A shimmering, rich and seductive nose with harmoniously ripe fruit. The palate is creamy, opulent, enveloping, already marked by subtle evolved notes.

Such subtlety and depth in the bouquet of Pape Clément 2022. It seeks neither sheen nor exuberance; it is far more devoted to detail, to the many flavors it reveals with finesse through nuances of graphite and black berries, complemented by a touch of garrigue. With good density, the palate may not have as much relief as the bouquet, but it has breadth, energy, and can boast fine bitters that not only underpin the mid-palate with freshness, but also lengthen the finish. An imposing, powerful, and subtle wine whose elements still need to settle, but the foundations are in place. Very much in place.

The nose is aromatic, toasty and caramelized. It first delivers notes of caramelized hazelnut, toasted hazelnut, toasted almond, vanilla, even praline and toasted wood, along with browned butter and lemon cream. This is followed by notes of both candied and fresh citrus (lemons, grapefruit), yellow peach, roasted green apple, freshly crushed green apple, a hint of honey and roasted quince in the background, hay, and cut grass. There’s a lovely balance of sweetness and tang on the nose, with a lactic, yogurt-like character. The palate is juicy and tangy, with a subtle bitterness on the attack (grapefruit, lime), then moving to crushed green apple, sweet white flowers (apple blossom, acacia), and a hint of fresh and toasted hazelnut on the finish. Long finish on stone fruits with a tangy, bitter touch of grapefruit.

Yellow color with green highlights. Intense nose with ripe fruit, a touch more driven by sauvignon than usual. The palate is supple and flavorful, becoming silky mid-palate, then the wine rises, long and mellow. Blend: 63% sauvignon blanc, 35% sémillon, 2% muscadelle. Alcohol: 13.9% - pH: 3.28. Yield: 30 hl/ha.

A generous wine that remains elegant. Aromas of mock orange, lemon zest, and a finely muscat-like note define a refined nose. The palate is bright and energetic, while also slightly rich, full-bodied, and very elongated, with saline and lemony nuances. The château lives up to its standing.