20 Rene Gabriel
50 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 47 % Merlot, 2 % Petit Verdot, 1 % Cabernet Franc. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Extrem dunkelbeerig mit vielen Rauchnuancen, Lakritze, dunklen Edelhölzer, Guinness-Biermalz und Black Currant im ersten Ansatz. Nach ein paar Minuten kommt eine feine Zimtnuance zum Tragen, Heidelbeerenmark und Tahiti-Vanilleschote. Das Aromenpaket ist in sich gekehrt und bleibt noch etwas im Innern obwohl der Wein gleichfalls auch verschwenderische Ansätze zeigt. Ausgeglichene, royale Adstringenz aufweisend, cremiges Extrakt mit massiver, aber nicht überladener Konzentration, bleibt blaubeerig und hat in sich eine nicht erklärbare Faszination. 20/20 2024 – 2048
96 Robert Parker
The 2015 Pape Clement is blended of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, matured in 80% new and 20% one-year-old French oak barrels for 18 months. Medium to deep garnet-purple, it opens with profound notes of crushed red and black currants, black cherries and cassis with touches of mocha, baking spices, menthol and lavender plus a hint of new leather. Medium-bodied, firm and concentrated with tons of tightly wound black fruit and earth layers, it has a grainy frame and refreshing lift on the long finish.
95 Vinous
The 2015 Pape-Clément has a fragrant bouquet with quite plush, generous but well defined red berry fruit mixed with rose petal and incense, smoke and cigar humidor following later. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin, crisp and focused. A seam of graphite emerges toward the finish. This is linear and correct at the moment. This should develop into a very fine Pessac-Léognan, one full of breed and sophistication. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.
95 Wine Spectator
Ripe and lush, with flashy anise, apple wood and mocha notes forming the frame and ample cassis, cherry paste and plum sauce flavors at the core for balance. Shows lots of sweet spice details through the finish, with the apple wood edge holding sway for now. A bold, glossy version that will please fans of the style after some time. Best from 2022 through 2035.