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Decanter: Really floral on the nose, expressive with ripe red and black fruit, incense perfumed scents and a rich headiness with such aromatic purity. Supple and velvety, round and lively with quite a delicate style here where the focus is on the clarity of the blueberry fruit and the lifted aspects rather than fleshiness or power. Almost understated, a word not often used with Pape. A soft salty, wet stone and chalky aspect on the finish. Definitely fresh with lots of energy here. Elegant and precise with a soft chew on the finish and ripe fruit. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.68pH. A yield of 29hl/ha. Ageing 85% in barrels (1/3 new) and 15% in foudres. Harvest 3-25 September."
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Lisa Perrotti-Brown: Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2025 Pape Clement erupts from the glass with an intense perfume of juicy blueberries and black cherries, leading to an undercurrent of rose bud tea, licorice, chocolate mint, and crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate delivers velvety tannins with a refreshing line and dense black and blue fruit coating the mid-palate, finishing very long and perfumed. Stunning. The blend is 60% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. The alcohol is 13.7%."
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The Wine Cellar Insider: Dark ruby in color, cigar box, flowers, smoke, tobacco, blackberries, cocoa, and burning leaves create the aromatic profile. The palate is lushly textured, with layers of juicy, creamy fruits, dark chocolate, saffron, and a hint of tobacco leaves in the spicy finish. Aging takes place in 33% new, French oak, amphora, and other assorted, neutral vessels. The wine blends 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. 13.7% ABV, 3.68 pH. Harvesting took place September 3 - September 25. Yields were only 29 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2029-2060."
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James Suckling: A linear and very tight red with black currant, blackberry and hazelnut undertones. It's medium- to full-bodied with firm and racy tannins and a savory finish. Lots of tannins, but they are very fine textured and show outstanding length. 60% merlot, 36% cabernet sauvignon, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot."
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Falstaff: Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Leicht buttrig, pfeffrig, Schwarzkirsche, nicht sehr offen, etwas Heidelbeere. Im Mund zeigt sich eine sehr feine Extraktion, da ist eine hohe Menge makellos reifen, feinen Tannins, im Jahrgangskontext hat der Wein eine eher milde Säure. Wirkt unscheinbar, hat aber sehr viel Materie, und die ist hochwertig."
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Jane Anson: Wide ranging and expansive, love the bright cherry pit and damson, a ton of expansion and character, luscious with dark berry fruits, espresso and cocoa bean. Julien Viaud consultant. A new group technical director has come over from Penfolds, Pablo Laborde, joined in early 2026 so for the blending and ageing of this vintage. Harvest September 3 to 25. Yield 23 hl/ha. 50% of the wine in barrels of which 25% is new. 55ha, with a recentering to the historical vineyard around the estate in Pessac. Indigenous yeast fermentation."
