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2023 Chateau Pape Clément Pessac-Leognan FUTURES - Pre-Arrival
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2023 Chateau Pape Clément Pessac-Leognan FUTURES - Pre-Arrival

Retail $130
$109.98
/ bottle
You save $20.02
  • "This is Really Classy" ~98 JS
  • "One of the Most Exciting Wines I Have Tasted Here" ~97VM
  • Oldest Estate in Pessac-Leognan
  • Free Shipping on 12 or More Bottles
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Image of 2023 Chateau Pape Clément Pessac-Leognan FUTURES - Pre-Arrival 2023 Chateau Pape Clément Pessac-Leognan FUTURES - Pre-Arrival
$130
$109.98
/ bottle
You save $20.02

About The Wine

Welcome to the oldest wine estate in Pessac with more than 700 released vintages!

Château Pape Clement has a very long story to tell, the first vintage released was in 1252 and the estate has produced wine every year since. Previously the Château was called Domaine de la Mothe and acquired the name of Pape Clement thanks to its second owner, Gaillard de Goth brother of Bertrand de Goth who in 1305 was named Pope, Pope Clement V. Gaillar inherited the estate from his brother Bertrand and he, in turn, renamed the castle as we now know it.

The renowned Château passed through the hands of different owners, each of whom contributed to positive achievements to the growth of the property. Since 1980, the Château could not fall into better hands than the passionate wine-lover and great wine entrepreneur Bernard Margez. For Bernard, Château Pape Clement was the beginning of his great career as a wine entrepreneur, Pape Clement is the first vineyard of 42 estates that he currently owns, including La Tour Carnet, Château Fombrauge, and Clos Haut Peyraguey. This winery and this wine is his flagship.

Château Pape Clement is on the list of the Classification of Graves Wine of 1959, in which Haut-Brion is also enlisted.Located in the spectacular terroir of Pessac-Leognan, this Château's nearly 150-acre vineyard is fortunate to be situated on the oldest of the alluvial terraces known as the “Pyrenean gravel bed”.

The combination of an extraordinary climate, enviable soils, wine-making practices that are constantly innovating, cutting-edge technology, and the hand of technical advisor Michelle Rolland have allowed the word “Excellence” to be synonymous with this Château; And not only do we say it, but the famous wine critic Robert Parker can also assure it, in 2009 and 2019 two wines from this Château obtained perfect 100 point scores.

In addition to being careful in all aspects of the quality of the wine and vineyard, they are also environmentally responsible and it is one of the few Châteaux certified with the highest environmental distinction according to France; the HVE 3.

*Since 2009, Bighammerwines.com has been offering the best wines from Bordeaux online. We are a reliable and successful bridge for our clients to access significant allocations from the top Chateau, negociants and other direct importers.

This is a BHW Direct Import/Ex-Chateau item. This is a futures item that is expected to deliver in 2026.

You may be charged a small ground shipping fee. However, this is NOT the actual amount due to ship when it arrives in two years. The actual shipping cost will be communicated to you and charged at the time of shipping in 2026.

At the time of arrival, we will contact you to confirm your shipping address and collect the shipping charge per your preference. Please be sure to provide your correct contact information.

If you have a preference for bottle size, please inquire.

Many of the chateau allow you to pre-order these wines in 375ml, 1.5L, or larger bottle formats.

Note: If there are US tariffs in place at the time of importation, those costs will be passed on to you. Please review our terms and conditions of sale.

Due to demand, this wine is only available in 6 bottle increments.

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At A Glance

Varietal:
Cabernet Sauvignon
Region:
Bordeaux
Alcohol:
14.5%
Size:
750ml

TASTING NOTES

What's in the Glass

PAIRS WITH
Steak · Lamb · Cheese · Mushroom Dish

Mouthfeel & Acidity

Light Body Full Body
 
 
 
 
 
Low Acidity High Acidity
 
 
 
 
 
Soft Tannins Firm Tannins
Dry Sweet

A Cabernet-led Pessac-Léognan from Chateau Pape Clément, offered as a pre-arrival future.

Blackberry, currant, and mushroom with dried flowers, mint, licorice, mocha, and cedar. Full-bodied and intensely aromatic, with wonderfully polished tannins, textural richness, and a long, seamless finish.

CRITIC REVIEWS

What the Critics Said

This is really classy with length and polish that shine brightly. Also, you see blackberry, bark, currant and mushroom character. Full-bodied with wonderfully polished tannins and a seamless finish. ~97-98 JS

The 2023 Pape Clément is one of the most exciting wines I have tasted here in a long time, maybe ever. Intensely aromatic and layered, the 2023 is simply stunning. Dried flowers, mint, licorice, mocha, cedar and tobacco soar out of the glass. The purity of the flavors is simply mind-blowing. Plum, pomegranate, blood orange and spice build in the glass, adding notable textural richness and resonance. This is the first vintage vinified with indigenous yeasts. Aging takes place in a combination of concrete tanks, ceramic eggs, Clayvers, 400-liter barrels and 225-liter barriques. For readers who want to taste the “new” Bordeaux, this is it. What a wine! Tasted four times. ~95-97 AG-VM

The 2023 Chateau Pape Clément is based on 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Its deep purple hue is followed by a beautiful array of red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, subtle leather, and savory herbs. It's not massive, but it’s medium to full-bodied, with a supple, elegant mouthfeel, seamless tannins, and just about flawless balance. Pure class with its overall balance and finesse, it should shine right out of the gate yet still have 25+ years of overall longevity. Tasted three times. ~95-97 JD

The 2023 Pape Clément is the first vintage fully employing crème de levures, using native yeasts in the vineyard to start the fermentation and improve balance, together with two native yeasts regularly employed since 2012 (to maintain some consistency). It was picked from September 5 to October 3 and matured in 60% new oak, including foudres. The 2023 is cut from a very different cloth compared to recent vintages. It’s much more classic in style, almost reserved, with tightly wound black fruit mixed with briar and light gravelly scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a light entry, just a pinch of spice and moderate depth. The silky, peppery, finish is more tertiary than you would expect to find on what was once quite a bombastic Pessac-Léognan. One sample had a soupçon of herbaceousness, whilst another at the chateau had none at all. Very fine. I like this new direction. though I would not regard this as a benchmark for future vintages. This will be interesting to revisit after bottling. ~93-95 NM-VM

The 2023 Pape Clément evokes aromas of dark wild berries, spices, licorice and mulberries, followed by a medium to full-bodied, round and ample palate with structuring tannins and a firm, concentrated mid-palate that segues into a long, fruity finish. Less oaky than the previous years, this is a more contemporary expression of this great terroir. It's a blend of 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. ~92-94 RP

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