The 2022 Pape Clement, a Bordeaux Blend from the Pessac Leognan sub-region of Bordeaux, France, is a red wine that has garnered high praise from multiple reviewers. A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is noted for its dark, almost opaque color and rich, complex profile.
Jeff Leve of TheWineCellarInsider.com awarded it 98 points, highlighting its "showy display of flowers, cinnamon, chocolate, spice, tobacco, blackberries, and black cherries" in the aroma. Leve describes the palate as "rich, lush, sweet, deep, and intense" with black cherries, white pepper, dark chocolate, and espresso flavors. The finish is long-lasting, delivering a "peppery, orange rind, refreshing note."
Jeb Dunnuck also from TheWineCellarInsider.com matches Leve’s score, calling it a "full-bodied, concentrated, awesome Pessac." He praises its "spiced red and black fruits, some leafy tobacco, gravelly earth, and graphite aromatics," along with "building, ripe, polished tannins" and a "stacked mid-palate."
Meanwhile, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate offers a slightly lower score of 94 points. Yohan Castaing notes the wine's "aromas of blueberries, cassis, spring flowers, and toasty new oak," describing it as "full-bodied, broad, and textural" with a "rich, layered core of super-ripe fruit." He adds that the tannins are "liberally extracted" and the finish is "lavishly oaky."
James Suckling rates it highly with 98 points, emphasizing its "powerful tannins" and "perfumed and fresh" qualities. He notes the presence of "flowers and subtle undertones of stone," and describes it as "pure" and "full but not heavy."
Jane Anson gives the wine 95 points, appreciating its "deep and intense" character without being "full on ink color." She mentions flavors of "cocoa bean, fig, rosemary, kirsch, cigar box, black pepper, and mint leaf," and notes the tannins are "firm, muscular and hold things firmly in place."
Vinous critic Neal Martin scores it 96 points, observing that it has an "open and expressive bouquet" with "blackcurrant and bilberry scents" and a "medium-bodied" palate with "fine tannins." He describes it as having "layers of black fruit laced with graphite and cedar."
Decanter also rates it 95 points, noting its "focussed and charming" nature with "good weight and depth" and a "tightly knitted but still showing glamour" quality.
Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss awards it 97 points, highlighting its "smooth texture and firm tannins" and describing it as both "rich and fragrant."
Lastly, The Wine Independent scores it 97 points, describing it as "deep garnet-purple in color" with notes of "baked blackberries, boysenberry preserves, and plum pudding," and a "full-bodied palate" that is "rich and impactful."
Overall, the 2022 Pape Clement is a highly regarded wine with a strong structure, rich complexity, and notable aging potential.