2010 Chateau Pape Clement Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan, D-Magnum (3L)

RP100 "Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Pape Clement comes wafting sensuously from the glass with fragrant notions of dried roses, Chinese five spice and sandalwood over a core of kirsch, warm cassis and plum preserves plus a touch of cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is finely crafted with a firm line of ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the perfumed fruit through the incredibly long finish." LPB for TWA Mar 2020

JD100 "A blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that hit 13.5% natural alcohol, the 2010 Château Pape Clément is a powerful, concentrated, yet still incredibly refined and elegant Pessac. Still youthfully plum-hued with no signs of bricking, it offers a sensational nose of ripe currants, chocolate, scorched earth, and graphite that needs lots of air to show its full potential. Deep, full-bodied, and layered on the palate, it has ultra-fine, seamless tannins and perfectly integrated oak. The inherent elegance of this terroir is certainly here, but this is a concentrated, incredibly impressive Pessac in the early stages of its prime drinking window with another 20+ years of prime drinking ahead of it." JD Mar 2024

Robert Parker writes, "I certainly underrated the 2010 Pape Clement from barrel, rating it only 93-95+. (Thank God I put a “plus” there!) Having tasted it four times in Bordeaux, and rating it perfect three times and 99 the fourth time, this final blend of 51% Merlot, 47.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1.5% Petit Verdot is perfection in a bottle. Tipping the scales at 14.5% natural alcohol, there are 8,000 cases of it. Its sublime elegance, the power, the medium to full-bodied texture, the silky tannins, the subtle notes of smoke, lead pencil shavings, black currants, charcoal, camphor, blueberry and cassis fruit are all remarkable. It is a rich, full-throttle wine, but the elegance and the great terroir of Pape Clement come through in abundance. It is slightly more developed and evolved than the 2005 was at a similar point in its evolution, but it certainly needs another 5-7 years to develop further nuances, which it surely will. This wine will last 30-40+ years. Kudos to proprietor Bernard Magrez, who has built an empire based on high quality more than any other characteristic." 100 Pts Published: Feb 27, 2013