Pape Clément Pessac-Léognan 2009

99 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2009 Pape Clement struts flamboyantly out of the glass, featuring beautifully opulent preserved black fruits, Morello cherries and Chinese five spice with underlying notions of truffles, iron ore and tobacco plus a waft of sandalwood. Full-bodied, the voluptuous fruit has a firm foundation of super ripe, grainy tannins and bags of freshness supporting layer upon layer of black fruit, exotic spices and earth-laced flavors, finishing very long. Drink: 2019-2055. (Mar 2019)"

98 points James Suckling: "Wonderful aromas of plums and blueberries and flowers. Full-bodied with plums, stones, hazelnuts and milk chocolate, and a long, long finish. Marvelous. Best ever. Try in 2017. (7/31/12)"

97 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Deep garnet in color, the wine inches closer to maturity with truffle, cigar box, leather, salty plums, tobacco leaf and red berries. Full-bodied, lushly textured, with ripe, polished, round tannins and some oak remaining to be resolved, the finish serves up layers of ripe, dark, velvet textured, polished fruits. This is still primary, so 6-8 more years of aging will come close to bringing this around. If you cannot wait that long, give it 2-3 hours of air. (Sep 2019)"

96 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Continuing to drink beautifully (my last bottle was a handful of years ago), the 2009 Château Pape Clément offers mature notes of blackcurrants, chocolate, cedar pencil, and loamy earth. It shows the ripe, sexy style of the vintage, yet most of its baby fat has melted away and it's showing a beautiful sense of elegance as well as classic Graves smoky, tobacco, and earthy aromas and flavors. Enjoy this beautiful, elegant wine any time over the coming 25+ years. Drink: 2020-2048. (11/23/20)"

96 points (18/20) La Revue du Vin de France: "The 2009 vintage is maturing in the bottle, while retaining the opulence that characterizes this vintage. (2014)"

95 points Robert Parker: "Although the 2009 Pape Clement may not be as sublime as the 2005 or 2000, but it is very close to those two efforts, and it will be fascinating to compare them (as well as the 2008 and 2010) over the following three decades. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc with a modest 13.5% alcohol, the 2009 reveals considerable structure and tannin along with tell-tale notes of burning embers, scorched earth, graphite, blueberries, blackberries and toasty vanillin, and a full-bodied mouthfeel. This rich, full offering is surprisingly backward. This cuvee should drink well in 5-6 years as one rarely has to wait a decade or more to enjoy Pape Clement. It should age for three decades or more. (Feb 2012)"

95 points Wine Spectator: "Rich and muscular, with exotic roasted spice, braised fig and warm raspberry confiture notes that are supported by a broad baseline of dark cocoa, tar and freshly brewed espresso. Not shy about its modernity, but everything is in place. Just needs to settle in with cellaring. Best from 2015 through 2030. (1/11/12)"

95 points Decanter: "An early-ripening and generous wine in an early-ripening and generous year, this is full of the exuberance that it demonstrated when young. The terroir is starting to exert its influence now, with a lovely pull back on the finish as the tannins step up. It's still youthful and buttoned down but the fruit is exotically ripe and really starting to come into its prime, with traces of heavy black pepper spice. Extremely good quality, if vintage led. Drinking Window: 2019-2040. (Feb 2019)"

95 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot). Opulent mouthfeel, grilled sandalwood oak set against bitter chocolate, creamy damson fruits, pulses of cumin, marzipan and rosemary spice. A gourmet, rich example of the vintage, full of estate signature, and very enjoyable. 100% new oak for ageing, Michel Rolland consultant Alcohol 14.5%. Drink: 2024-2038. (9/20/24)"

95 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "This is a richly structured wine with beautiful perfumes emanating from the bouquet. The rich, stalky texture is balanced by the flavors of dark chocolate and black currant jelly. It's big, ripe and full of potential, a fine balance between opulence and ageworthiness. (Sep 2012)"