2012 chateau pape clement cru classe, pessac-leognan
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Why We're Buying
Château Pape Clément is the oldest wine estate in Bordeaux and a powerhouse among red and white wine producers. Even a place as renowned as Château Pape Clément can benefit from some good PR, though. In 2010, wine critic Robert Parker gave the grand vin the magic 100-point rating, and within a year, the price jumped from $1,270 to $2,170 (70.9).
Critics Scores
James Suckling
This is rich and decadent with lots of wet earth, tobacco, berries and hints of cedar. Full body, round and velvety tannins and a long, long finish.
Jeb Dunnuck
Offering perfumed notes of spice box, dried red and black currants, cigar wrapper, toasted bread and leather, the 2012 Pape Clement is medium to full-bodied, silky, elegant, and beautifully pure on the palate, with no hard edges, a seamless, voluptuous texture and a classy finish. It's already approachable, but it should evolve nicely on its overall balance.
Wine Spectator
Densely packed, with lots of dark steeped currant, fig and blackberry fruit, slowly melding with muscular licorice snap, bramble, singed bay and ganache notes. The long, dark, ganache-coated finish isn't shy, but an enticing rusticity keeps this honest. A large-scaled wine that has really powered up since the barrel tasting. Best from 2018 through 2027.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The iconic 2012 Pape Clement is a candidate for near-perfection as well as one of the wines of the vintage. From proprietor Bernard Magrez, this is a blend of 51 Cabernet Sauvignon, 46 Merlot, 2 Petit Verdot and 1 Cabernet Franc. This extraordinary vineyard (a few miles to the west of Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion) has hit all the highlights of this vintage. Interestingly, the quality of the Pomerols and Graves wines in 2012 is closer to what one would consider a great vintage than the general image of 2012. This is truly great wine and not far off their magnificent 2005 and 2010. Full-bodied, with rich cassis, subtle burning embers and spice followed by velvety, well-integrated tannins, the wine is lush, expansive, savory and profound. This is a remarkable wine that could be drunk at a reasonably young age, but should cellar brilliantly for a quarter-century.
Wine Enthusiast
Concentrated and rich, this has fine tannins that are integrated into the big plum fruits. It’s a black-fruited wine that has both the fruit and the structure to allow it to age well. Drink from 2020.