Château Pape Clément 2018

The 2018 Pape Clement is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, aged for approximately 18 months in oak barrels, 60% new. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it rolls out of the glass with vibrant notes of crushed black cherries, stewed black plums and black raspberries, followed by suggestions of violets, star anise, cardamom and camphor with a waft of iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers exhilarating energy, offering crunchy black berry and exotic spice layers with a solid frame of ripe, grainy tannins and loads of freshness, finishing long and mineral tinged. Still very primary, it will need a good 5 years in bottle to deliver that next-level experience and will drink over the next 30+ years. -Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Pape Clément 2018 is absolutely a titanic Bordeaux red wine. Stable sandalwood and white coffee are lingering around highly matured cassis and plum, interspersed with hints of clove and cardamon's spiciness. The entry of the wine offers full of roundness but instantly dominated by rich yet polished tannins. Thanks to the big barrel (2018 is the first vintage for using lightning, 10%), the structure is apparently softer than previous vintages, and the structure's layers are more precious as well. 2018 is one of my best Pape Clément reds.

Aromas of wild blackberries, blueberries, dried lavender, cloves and eucalyptus with gravel and cocoa butter. It's full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins. Polished and creamy with a core of ripe fruit that evolves to herbs, spices and chocolate. Fantastic concentration and seamless integration. Try from 2024.

Dark, intense and beautiful color. Intense nose, with fine, ripe and subtle fruitiness. Soft as can be on the attack, melting and fragrant upon development, with body and taste, the wine finishes long, with fine and very, very good tannins.

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 aging ability and sense of confidence that is the signature of the property. 37hl/ha yield in 2018. Two-thirds new oak. -Jane Anson