Chateau Pape Clement - Chateau Pape Clement blanc 2023

JAMES SUCKLING: "Dense and tight with a solid core of sliced Meyer lemon, lime and green apple. It’s full and very compact with a phenolic texture that runs the length of the wine. Slightly chewy, yet, it’s long and persistent with a mineral and bitter citrus undertone at the end."

DECANTER: "Combining orange clementine, pink grapefruit and kiwi aromas, this is one of the brightest - and most non-opulent Pape Clément whites that I can recall tasting from en primeur. It reminds me a bit of the 2021 vintage. The finish shows a hint of pineapple but the wine is far more citrus driven, with breed and polish, excellent acidity and wet stone mineratlity. I am not sure about 96 points just yet, as it seems just a bit light on its feet for a Pape-Clément. Let's see how the barrel ageing will expand the palate, with a strong potential for a higher score. Tasted twice with similar results."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Quite floral in nature, with lemon rind, tangerine, vanilla, honeysuckle, pineapple, and white peach with a dab of honey are a pleasure in your glass. Fresh, vibrant, racy, clean, and pure, with a salty-honeyed note accompanying all of the sweet, ripe, orange, and yellow tropical fruits really works here in the mid-palate, and in the finish. The wine blends 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Semillon, 4% Sauvignon Gris, and 1% Muscadelle. Picking took place August 23 - September 7. Drink from 2025-2035."

WEINWISSER: "Delikates Bouquet, Weingartenpfirsich und Mandarinenzeste, dahinter Granatapfel, Melisse und Anis. Am saftigen Gaumen mit stützender Rasse, herrlicher pfeffriger Extraktfülle und mittlerem vielschichtigen Körper. Im gebündelten sehr präzisen Finale Renekloden, edler Kreideton und Eisenkraut. Dieser neue Stil gefällt mir deutlich besser, da der Wein mehr Profil erhält und durch das Terroir und nicht vom Ausbau geprägt ist."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The white Pape Clement 2023 erupts form the glass with powerful notes of juicy pineapple, green guava, and ripe pears, plus hints of lime blossoms and yuzu. The medium-bodied palate is racy and intense, with a satiny texture and great length."

VINUM: "Reiffruchtig und mit viel Würze, reifer Pfirsich, Ananas; saftiger Gaumen, zeigt Rasse und Schliff, dicht gebaut, sehr gute Säure, mineralisch im Abgang. Ein frischer, leichtfüssiger Pape-Clément."

JEB DUNNUCK: "One of the more serious whites in the vintage, the 2023 Château Pape Clément Blanc has a medium gold hue as well as a terrific nose of ripe stone fruits, honeyed flowers, and toasted bread. This carries to a more medium-bodied white with a vibrant, focused mouthfeel, integrated yet bright acidity, and a clean, crisp, mineral-laced finish. It's not up with the great vintages of this cuvée, but it's nevertheless a beautifully balanced white that will shine for a decade."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Aromas of white flowers, lemon oil, pomegranate and lemongrass preface the 2023 Pape Clément Blanc, a moderately weighted, sappy, layered and incisive wine with bright acids and a penetrating, mouthwatering finish. In comparison to previous vintages, the use of wood has been scaled back, allowing the wine to express a closer connection to its terroir and achieve greater precision in its aromatic profile."

FALSTAFF: "Helles Gelbgrün, silberfarbene Reflexe. Zart nach Mandarinenzesten, ein Hauch von Ananas und Mango, ein Hauch von Blütenhonig, einladendes Bukett. Straff, mittlere Komplexität, weiße Frucht, frischer Säurebogen, gut anhaftend, saliner Abgang, zeigt eine gewisse Länge."