Pape Clément Pessac-Léognan 2019

98 points Jeb Dunnuck: "As to the Grand Vin 2019 Château Pape Clement, it reveals a dense purple hue to go with stunning aromatics of crème de cassis, graphite, lead pencils shavings, scorched earth, and tobacco. Beautifully balanced, with flawless tannins, this full-bodied Pessac has that rare mix of elegance and power, a great mid-palate, and again, perfect balance. It's one of the gems of the vintage and has some accessibility today given its purity and balance, yet deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will cruise for 20-25 years or more in cold cellars. The blend is equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, brought up in two-thirds new French oak. Drink: 2026-2052. (4/11/22)"

97 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2019 Pape Clément is just as impressive as it was en primeur. It shows all of the textural richness that is so typical of Bernard Magrez's wines, but with an extra kick of freshness that provides energy as well as a sense of proportion. A wine of stature, the 2019 is so classy. Succulent black cherry, plum, mocha, new leather and licorice are all beautifully delineated. But more than anything else, I find the wine's energy really impressive. This is a fabulous vintage for Pape Clément. Tasted two times. Drink: 2027-2039. (Feb 2022)"

97 points James Suckling: "Crushed-stone and berry aromas with some blackberry and black-tea character. Just a touch of smokiness. Sweet fruit, too. This is so refined, subtle, and beautiful for Pape with full body, ultra-fine tannins and a succulent finish. The center-palate is dense and complete. Goes on for minutes. So subtle and refined, focused and classy. Try after 2026. (1/19/22)"

97 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Almost opaque in color, the wine kicks off with an intense array of smoke, tobacco, cigar box, flowers, spice, dark plums and blackberry aromas. On the palate, the wine is rich, lush, polished, full-bodied, deep, long and fresh. The finish crosses the 50 second mark with ease, leaving you with opulently-textured, layers of perfectly ripe, sensuous, rich, dark fruits. Because the amount of oak has been decreased during the aging process, the fruit is allowed to shine front and center, allowing for more vibrancy and purity. This is a top vintage of Pape Clement that clearly merits your attention. Drink from 2030-2060. (Mar 2022)"

96 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot) This lays down a challenge to the other wines in Pessac-Léognan, with a little more power and definition, with slate tannins and a rasp of minerality all while delivering pure and concentrated raspberry, loganberry and black cherry fruits. The tannins are confident and are not about to let the fruit go anywhere soon. Great quality and potential, a little more severe and austere than the 2018 at this point, needs a good five years in bottle. Harvest September 17 to October 10, An upscore from En Primeur. Tasted twice, two months apart. Alcohol 14%. Drink: 2027-2044. (1/11/22)"

96 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "A very straightforward blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. An elegant, poised and smoky nose, with black raspberry, soy, black cherry, liquorice and smoke aromas. The nose has a svelte sense of integration but this is reinforced by the palate which has a very elegantly balanced yet polished style, with seamless fruit, underneath piles of ripe tannins. The middle is heavily gripped at the moment, and still imbued with a huge presence of oak, but it is well composed, a feeling reaffirmed in the finish which feels svelte, with a velvety integration, and a good length, albeit still gripped by that tannin. Fine potential here. The declared alcohol is 14.5%. Tasted twice. (Dec 2021)"

96 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Deep dark ruby colour with an opaque core, purple reflections and a subtle bright rim. Black cherry fruit with a hint of cassis, liquorice, tangerine zest and fine nougat is underlaid with a fine oak note. Juicy, pronounced fruit on the palate and elegant, ripe tannins with a fresh structure. There are ripe cherries on the finish, mineral-salty with very good length and balance. It has a great future ahead of it with sure ageing potential. (6/15/20)"

95 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2019 Pape Clement is deep garnet-purple in color. It starts off closed and broody before offering fragrant scents of rose oil, cardamom, and fertile loam, over a core of plum preserves, blackberry pie, and cedar. The medium-bodied palate is taut, muscular, and intense, delivering firm, grainy tannins and fantastic tension, finishing long and mineral-laced. Alcohol 14%. Drink: 2025-2048. (5/1/23)"

95 points Georgina Hindle (Decanter): "Density in all aspects here, quite a rich, broad and bold style but with precision, clarity and definition. It's big shouldered with plenty of heft and ripe fruit but well presented with great acidity that keeps the freshness from start to finish and this has a nice cooling minty aspect towards the finish. Tannins are firm, and still very present, needing to soften a little over time but this definitely has the weight, structure and fruit purity to have a long life ahead. Drinking Window: 2027-2042. (1/5/22)"

95 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "[$134 list] This vintage shows swathes of ripe fruits that have a youthful, textured character. Wood aging has added spice and rounded out the white-fruit-flavored texture. This complex wine will age and should be drunk from 2024. Alcohol 14%. (May 2022)"