90 -92 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, February 1998

Following a classic Graves aromatic profile of weedy tobacco, smoke, fruitcake, and red and black currants, this dense, rich, medium-bodied 1996 reveals outstanding purity and ripeness, as well as glorious levels of finesse and complexity. It is not a muscular, weighty wine, but rather, one of precision and delicacy. The tannin is sweet, but the 1996 Pape-Clement is capable of lasting two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020. One of the quintessentially elegant, complex, and most distinctive wines of Bordeaux, Pape-Clement has been in top form since the 1986 vintage.

90 -91 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, March 2002

One of the stars of the northern Graves region, Pape-Clement's 1996 will turn out to be a modern day clone of their brilliant 1986. This estate has proven that a highly-skilled winemaking team could overcome some of the heavy rains that fell on this area of Graves. Yields were 43 hectoliters per hectare (just over 2 tons of fruit per acre). With extensive leaf pulling, and a late harvest for the Cabernet Sauvignon (it finished on October 8), Pape-Clement has fashioned an elegant, classic example of this estate's wine. Forty percent of the production was allowed to go through malolactic fermentation in new oak, and this wine (like the 1986, a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot) will be bottled unfiltered. It exhibits a deep, saturated purple color, a sweet, lead pencil, roasted herb, earthy, blackcurrant-scented nose, approachable, medium-bodied, concentrated flavors, admirable focus, and a layered, rich, complex, multi-dimensional palate. This wine should come forward relatively early because the fruit seems even sweeter than what the 1986 possessed at a similar age. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2018. P.S. I would rank this Pape-Clement alongside the three previous best efforts - the 1986, 1988, and 1990.

90 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, April 1999

This is an elegant, complex, distinctive wine that depends on its aromatic complexity and harmonious display of fruit and structure for appeal. It will not knock over tasters with a display of power or muscle. The color is a healthy dark ruby. The wine offers up roasted herb, tobacco, sweet cranberry and black currant fruit aromas. It is medium-bodied, with a rich, layered, silky impression, excellent purity, and soft tannin in the finish. Surprisingly forward, it appears to be on a rapid evolutionary track, although it will keep for 15 or more years. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2016.

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