Tasting Notes
Vinous 93+
The 2008 Pape Clément has a perfumed bouquet with blackberry, boysenberry, pencil lead and black olive scents, just a subtle estuarine element coming through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, a fine bead of acidity, quite dense and muscular but retaining delineation. My one quibble is that the oak just feels a little too conspicuous towards the finish, so give it another 4 to 5 years. (Tasted at the château and at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual vertical tasting.)
Anticipated maturity: 2022-2035
Robert Parker 91
Tasted ex-chateau and single blind in Southwold. The Pape-Clement 2008 is noticeably deeper in colour than its peers. The nose is well defined with crisp blackberry, black olive and a touch of warm gravel. The palate is well balanced with quite racy acidity, although the finish has a tininess to it that will hopefully disappear with time (although it caused me to be more parsimonious with my score.) Tasted January 2012.