2022 Château Pape Clement En Primeur
Since lockdown, Bernard Magrez has gotten into the habit of sending us a beautiful presentation case with cask samples from his five eclectic properties, including Pape Clement. The 2022 samples arrived just a couple of weeks ago. We have been a bit sniffy (no pun intended) about the style of Magrez's wines in the past, with their generous use of new oak, but the 2022s were delightful and very impressive, with Pape Clement at their pinnacle. Dunnuck describes says the 2022 will "rank with the crème de la crème of the vintage and is well worth seeking out. (96-98+ points)".
Please let us know as soon as possible if you would like to order.
Offered en primeur, on allocation. Landing spring 2025.
Magnums available with £15 ex-VAT bottling surcharge, please enquire for other formats.
All previous offers of 2022 Bordeaux can be found here.
Producer Profile
Château Pape Clément, Pessac-Leognan
Château Pape Clément is a Grand Cru Classé de Graves estate in the communes of Pessac-Léognan. The first recorded harvest here was in 1252. The estate was gifted to Pope Clement V after his accession in 1305 (he had previously been archbishop in Bordeaux and was known for an interest in wine). Subsequently Clement V moved his court to Avignon, leading to the establishment of Châteauneuf-du-Pape as a wine.
Pape Clément remained the property of the Arch Bishops of Bordeaux until the late 18th century. In the 1970s, Bordeaux merchant Bernard Magrez (and owner of Domaine de Chevalier) first bought shares in the estate, taking full ownership in 1980.
52 hectares are planted with red varieties; 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. 7 hectares are dedicated to white varieties; 48.5% Sémillon, 44.5% Sauvignon Blanc, 5.5% Sauvignon Gris and 1.5% Muscadelle. In the last decade precision viticulture has been introduced, including drone technology.
