Pape Clement 2006

Pessac-Leognan, Grand Cru Classé

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Tasting Notes
The dense purple-colored 2006 boasts an extraordinary perfume of lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, burning embers, and a sensation that can only be described as like walking through a damp forest on a hot, humid day. Full-bodied, extraordinarily textured, and multidimensional with an amazingly long finish of nearly 60 seconds, this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot from a 75-acre vineyard is a compelling wine that is one of the stars of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030. I can’t say enough about the extraordinary work proprietor Bernard Magrez, assisted by the internationally renowned Michel Rolland, is doing at Pape-Clement. From this outstanding terroir, he comes close to rivaling what both Haut-Brion and La Mission-Haut-Brion are accomplishing a few miles away. Following the prodigious 2005 Pape-Clement, it would be hard to believe the next vintage could nearly match its predecessor. However, that is what has happened at this estate with both white and red, by the way. Score: 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2030 01 February 2009
More accolades are due proprietor Bernard Magrez, Bordeaux’s leading visionary, for what he is accomplishing at his flagship estate as well as at myriad other properties. Pape-Clement’s harvest took place between September 21 and October 10. Yields were only 40 hectoliters per hectare, and the final blend was 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc. While the 2006 will not make anyone overlook the immortal 2005, it is a brilliant, blue/purple-tinged effort exhibiting aromas of lead pencil shavings interwoven with blueberries, raspberries, black currants, and background wood. Medium to full-bodied, pure, textured, and structured, this beauty is one of the appellation’s finest wines. It should put on even more weight with some bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030. Score: 92 - 94 Robert Parker, - 01 January 1900
Tasted at a negotiant. Deep purple garnet colour. A lot of new oak dominating the nose. Cassis, raspberry and something very ripe (dried orange peel?) Complex and involving. The palate is full-bodied, very muscular with a lot of new oak. Very modern in style, quite opulent, perhaps lacking a little finesse and poise. Huge grip on the finish. Lacks a little grace but impressive purity of fruit. Tasted April 2007. Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2007
Dark purple with a pink rim. Some fresh, good quality oak on the nose. I feel as though I have tasted many wines like this before (not today)! Neat, well judged fruit, pretty tight inky tannins. I wonder if this is Pape Clément? [it did indeed turn out to be The Flashy One] It tastes eerily like previous vintages of it. It lacks the mellowness of some other examples of 2006 Graves. A well put together package even if this tastes a bit constructed rather than grown. Score: 16 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-2022 16 April 2007
This historic estate slipped a bit in the sixties and seventies but has been firmly in the ascendant since the late nineties following huge investment by owner Bernard Magrez. Now regularly one of the best Pessac-Leognans and a favourite of Robert Parker. A deep dark colour with a complex nose of blackcurrant fruit, tobacco, and cloves. Thick and rich with lush, forward fruit and tarriness, and lashings of sexy oak. Modern, structured with very dry tannins but not overpowering. The biggest, fattest Pessac-Leognan after La Mission. Score: 91 - 94 Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2007
A chewy wine, with a full body. There's a slightly hollow center palate, but also good rich fruit and spice character. Score: 89 - 91 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2007

Tasting Notes

The dense purple-colored 2006 boasts an extraordinary perfume of lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, burning embers, and a sensation that can only be described as like walking through a damp forest on a hot, humid day. Full-bodied, extraordinarily textured, and multidimensional with an amazingly long finish of nearly 60 seconds, this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot from a 75-acre vineyard is a compelling wine that is one of the stars of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030. I can’t say enough about the extraordinary work proprietor Bernard Magrez, assisted by the internationally renowned Michel Rolland, is doing at Pape-Clement. From this outstanding terroir, he comes close to rivaling what both Haut-Brion and La Mission-Haut-Brion are accomplishing a few miles away. Following the prodigious 2005 Pape-Clement, it would be hard to believe the next vintage could nearly match its predecessor. However, that is what has happened at this estate with both white and red, by the way.

Score: 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2030 01 February 2009

More accolades are due proprietor Bernard Magrez, Bordeaux’s leading visionary, for what he is accomplishing at his flagship estate as well as at myriad other properties. Pape-Clement’s harvest took place between September 21 and October 10. Yields were only 40 hectoliters per hectare, and the final blend was 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc. While the 2006 will not make anyone overlook the immortal 2005, it is a brilliant, blue/purple-tinged effort exhibiting aromas of lead pencil shavings interwoven with blueberries, raspberries, black currants, and background wood. Medium to full-bodied, pure, textured, and structured, this beauty is one of the appellation’s finest wines. It should put on even more weight with some bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030.

Score: 92 - 94

Robert Parker, - 01 January 1900

Tasted at a negotiant. Deep purple garnet colour. A lot of new oak dominating the nose. Cassis, raspberry and something very ripe (dried orange peel?) Complex and involving. The palate is full-bodied, very muscular with a lot of new oak. Very modern in style, quite opulent, perhaps lacking a little finesse and poise. Huge grip on the finish. Lacks a little grace but impressive purity of fruit. Tasted April 2007.

Score: 90 - 92

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2007

Dark purple with a pink rim. Some fresh, good quality oak on the nose. I feel as though I have tasted many wines like this before (not today)! Neat, well judged fruit, pretty tight inky tannins. I wonder if this is Pape Clément? [it did indeed turn out to be The Flashy One] It tastes eerily like previous vintages of it. It lacks the mellowness of some other examples of 2006 Graves. A well put together package even if this tastes a bit constructed rather than grown.

Score: 16

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-2022 16 April 2007

This historic estate slipped a bit in the sixties and seventies but has been firmly in the ascendant since the late nineties following huge investment by owner Bernard Magrez. Now regularly one of the best Pessac-Leognans and a favourite of Robert Parker. A deep dark colour with a complex nose of blackcurrant fruit, tobacco, and cloves. Thick and rich with lush, forward fruit and tarriness, and lashings of sexy oak. Modern, structured with very dry tannins but not overpowering. The biggest, fattest Pessac-Leognan after La Mission.

Score: 91 - 94

Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2007

A chewy wine, with a full body. There's a slightly hollow center palate, but also good rich fruit and spice character.

Score: 89 - 91

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2007

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