Château Pape Clement Blanc 2019

Château Pape Clément is from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, ranked among the Grands Crus Classés in the Classification of Graves wine of 1959. With vines initially planted in 1252, it is argued by some to be the oldest wine estate in Bordeaux. The estate was presented to Bertrand de Goth, a member of a local noble family, upon his appointment as archbishop of Bordeaux, by his brother. In 1305, Bertrand de Goth was elected Pope (he was one of seventeen popes with French ancestry) and took up his papal name, Clement V. In French, pope is called “pape”, meaning the spiritual father. Pape Clement left his estate to the successor archbishop of Bordeaux, who renamed the property to demonstrate the papal linkage. Bertrand would later move the papacy to Avignon, which led to the development of the famed wine region known as Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Pope’s New Castle in English) today.

As the story of many Church-affiliated estates, Château Pape Clément remained in the possession of archbishops of Bordeaux until the French Revolution, when it was nationalized and sold. By the middle of the 19th century, the estate was widely regarded to be second only to Château Haut-Brion. Some regard Château Pape Clément as the most important vineyard of Pessac-Léognan behind Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion.

"A blend of 46% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon and 14% Sauvignon Gris, the 2019 Blanc was harvested from the 30th of August to the 13th of September. It was vinified in various types of vessels. Sixty percent was fermented in French oak barrels of varying capacities ranging from 225 to 500 liters, 22% of which were new. Seven percent was fermented in concrete eggs. Seventeen percent was fermented in large, French oak foudres, with 44% new. And 16% was fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The nose of this nascent beauty was locked up tight for the first few minutes, eventually unfurling to offer subtle scents of fresh pineapple, green guava, kumquat and lemon zest with an emerging core of honey-drizzled white peach, chopped almonds and oyster shells plus a waft of baker's yeast. Medium-bodied, the palate is beautifully nuanced and poised, delivering fantastic intensity with a racy backbone and gorgeous satiny texture, finishing with epic length. Stunning." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (6/17/2020, Bordeaux 2019 Issue), Ratings: (95-97)