The 2012 Pape Clement Bordeaux Blend, produced by Pape Clement in the Pessac Leognan region of Bordeaux, France, has garnered consistent acclaim from a variety of esteemed wine reviewers. This red wine, sealed with a cork and featuring an alcohol content of 13.5%, has been particularly noted for its rich complexity and aging potential.
Wine Spectator's J.M. awarded this vintage a score of 94, praising its densely packed profile with "dark steeped currant, fig, and blackberry fruit," and a "long, dark, ganache-coated finish." J.M. suggests this wine will be at its best from 2018 through 2027, highlighting its enticing rusticity.
Wine Enthusiast also rated it highly, giving it a 93 and noting its concentration and richness. The review emphasizes the integration of fine tannins with "big plum fruits," and its potential to age well, recommending it be drunk from 2020 onward.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate took the praise even higher with a near-perfect score of 97. Robert Parker lauded it as "one of the wines of the vintage" and described its full-bodied nature, featuring "rich cassis, subtle burning embers, and spice" followed by "velvety, well-integrated tannins." Parker also noted its aging potential, indicating it could cellar brilliantly for up to a quarter-century.
Neal Martin's Wine Journal, Vinous, and Jeb Dunnuck each awarded the wine a score of 94. Martin described it as "medium-bodied with grainy, plump, ripe tannins and crisp acidity," while Vinous highlighted its deep, supple, and flamboyant character. Jeb Dunnuck noted its "seamless, voluptuous texture" and balance, making it approachable yet capable of evolving nicely.
Jeff Leve of TheWineCellarInsider.com scored it 93, appreciating its "lush, sweet, ripe blackberries and espresso character," and James Suckling matched this score, describing it as "rich and decadent with lots of wet earth, tobacco, berries, and hints of cedar."
Decanter and Jane Anson also provided positive assessments, with scores of 91 and 92 respectively, noting its "beautifully concentrated red and black fruits" and "tertiary notes of leather, earth, truffle, blueberry, and raspberry fruits."
Lastly, The Wine Independent’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown awarded it 93 points, describing it as "medium to deep garnet colored" with a lively finish that combines juicy black fruit and soft tannins.
Overall, the 2012 Pape Clement is a highly regarded wine, praised for its complexity, richness, and aging potential across various esteemed publications.