2023 Château Pape Clément Blanc
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Tasting notes
Pungent and rich, green fruit and herbaceous tones lift from the glass. The palate is round-textured, yet with sufficient tension and a pithy freshness. The oak needs time to integrate but everything is in balance here. Blend: 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Semillon, 4% Sauvignon Gris, 1% Muscadelle
Critic scores
James Suckling
Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2023 Pape Clément Blanc has a well-defined bouquet with a light smoky/flinty scent that infuses the yellow fruit, touches of Golden Delicious and beeswax. The palate is well balanced with an attractive texture, a keen line of acidity, a little spicier than the Clémentin and a dab of ginger on the finish. Worth seeking out.
This delivers on En Primeur promise, has nuance and subtle spice, sage, liquorice root, rose petals and preserved lemons, crushed oyster shell, slate and a mouthwatering finish. Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle both making an impact. 35hl/h yield, harvest August 28 to September 2. One point upscore.
One of the more serious whites in the vintage, the 2023 Château Pape Clément Blanc has a medium gold hue as well as a terrific nose of ripe stone fruits, honeyed flowers, and toasted bread. This carries to a more medium-bodied white with a vibrant, focused mouthfeel, integrated yet bright acidity, and a clean, crisp, mineral-laced finish. It's not up with the great vintages of this cuvée, but it's nevertheless a beautifully balanced white that will shine for a decade.
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.