2016 Pape-Clement Rouge (Pessac-Leognan)

The 2016 Pape-Clement has a more understated but quite compelling bouquet of blackberry, wild strawberry, crushed stone and orange pith aromas. With aeration, it reveals impressive delineation. The medium-bodied palate offers supple tannins. There is a core of licorice-tinged black fruit, but I detect just a soupcon of greenness on the finish, as if one lot did not quite achieve phenolic maturity. Hopefully that will be assimilated with bottle age. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 95+ points his has thrillingly bright dark berry fruits and a sharp shot of vitality that takes you through from beginning to end. Beautiful touches of minerality on the powerful palate, wrought into an elegant style without losing its texture and sense of depth. This is a step-change in many ways from the vintages where Pape Clement went all-out for power. 94 points

This is the best young Pape-Clement I’ve tasted for a long time, partly thanks to the vintage conditions, which made it hard to produce ultra-ripe wines. The oak is better integrated, too, complementing the rich, glossy, spicy fruit flavours and refreshing acidity. Drink 2022-30. 93 points

2016 Pape Clement exudes class and is one of the raciest, silkiest wines I have tasted here. The purity and intensity of the flavors is striking. Dark cherry, chocolate, spice and leather open up first. The full range of aromatics has not developed yet- that will come with time. Today it is the wine`s balance that is most remarkable. 93-96 pts