I love watching how Pape Clement is evolving with every vintage. There`s still a bit of Venice Beach in its muscles but it has let some juice in between the firm tannins and it`s all the better for it. There are ripples of freshness here too, with lots of fleshy fruit, and a slatey mineral finish that sits against chocolate and smoked cedar notes. It`s clearly been carefully extracted yet still has the serious ageing ability and sense of confidence that is the signature of the property. 37hl/ha yield in 2018. Two-thirds new oak. 95 points

66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc; 65% new oak. Black core, purple rim. Plenty of lively black fruit on the nose, then really thick and chewy on the palate. The alcohol, high generally in this vintage, shows here. Dense, chewy and a bit monolithic. Tough finish at the moment. For lovers of power rather than elegance, though I think it would be too much for the table. 16.5 points

This wine is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc to be aged for approximately 18 months in oak barriques, 60% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Pape Clement is a little closed, slowly unfurling to reveal fragrant earth, crushed rocks, iron ore and tobacco notions over a core of crushed red and black currants plus kirsch, red roses and Ceylon tea. Full-bodied and wonderfully vivacious, it offers a solid line of firm and fine-grained tannins and amazing freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. 96-98 points

The 2018 Pape Clément is dense, powerful, and brooding. In most vintages, Pape Clément is much more showy and inviting, but the 2018 is in no mood to show all of its cards. Instead, we find a Pape Clément that explodes with vertical intensity and lift. Captivating scents of gravel, smoke, leather, tobacco, chocolate and incense add layers of complexity. I can`t wait to see how the 2018 ages. Today, it is super expre ssive. The blend is 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. New oak is 45%. Tasted four times. 93-96 points

The assemblage is 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. picked between September 20th and October 12th. The yield was 37 hl/ha. A very sweet nose, brimming with perfumed black cherry and damson, laced with smoky charcoal and rose petals. A very complete substance on the palate follows, with a very polished, broad and bold attack. It has a full grip, showing striking substance through the middle, underpinned by a rich bed of cashmere tannins. Substantial, broad, showing charm but also serious intent, with a great and brooding structure, it finishes with a slow fade of crushed fruits and subtle, tobacco-laced oak. A wonderful texture, confident and silky, and a convincing substance. This is an impressive wine with a great future. The élevage will be in 65% new oak and 35% second-fill oak, for 18 months. Tasted three times. 95-97 points