Château Pape Clément 2025

Chateau Pape Clement is among the oldest estates in Bordeaux, with harvests recorded from 1252 and a name taken from Bertrand de Goth, who became Pope Clement V. Since 1980 it has been run by Bernard Magrez. The estate lies in Pessac-Leognan, in the Graves, on deep beds of gravel and sand over clay. These warm, free-draining stones store heat and reflect it onto the fruit, ripening Cabernet Sauvignon fully and giving the firm, mineral, faintly smoky character that marks red Graves, while Merlot on the cooler patches adds flesh and roundness. The wine is barrel aged in French oak, where gradual oxygen exchange integrates the structure and lays down spice, cocoa and a toasted edge for long cellaring. It is deep, near opaque ruby with a nose of ripe plum, black cherry and cassis over woodsmoke, tobacco, cocoa and warm earth. The palate is full and structured, with firm but polished tannin, depth and a long savoury finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant two hours ahead. It suits roast beef, lamb and game.