2021 Pape Clement Blanc
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Tasting notes
The 2021 Château Pape Clément Blanc is certainly in the running for the white of the vintage. Based on 70% Sauvignon and 30% Semillon brought up in just 18% new oak, it has bright, racy acidity that's beautifully balanced by a rock-solid core of fruit and mid-palate density. Giving up notes of pineapple, tart peach, white chocolate, and ample minerality, it will warrant 2-4 years of bottle age, but it's impressive anyway you look at it.
Critic scores
Average Score
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Pape Clément Blanc offers lovely creaminess and richness, but in the more restrained, mid-weight style that has characterized these wines of late. Ripe pear, tangerine oil, passionfruit, mint and jasmine open with a bit of time in the glass. The 2021 is promising. Tasted three times.
The 2021 Pape Clément Blanc was picked from 8-23 September and offers fragrant white flowers and peach skin on the nose, more minerality than the Clementin, gaining intensity with aeration. The palate is well balanced, perhaps tauter than recent vintages with a fine spine of acidity, a dab of stem ginger and lemongrass towards the finish. The 30% Sémillon just lends a bit of umami here, and it should age well in bottle.
Serious and refined with dried lemon, pineapple, green apple, almond, gun flint and some aniseed. Bright and tight. Medium to full body. Fresh and alluring. Wait and see.
About the producer
Among the oldest estates in Bordeaux, Ch. Pape Clément has been guided into the modern era by Bernard Magrez, who has managed the estate since 1985. It makes some of the best reds in the region.