Le Clementin du Ch Pape Clement - Blanc Pessac Leognan 2019

90-92 Points, Wine Advocate "A blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon. The nose is already quite complex, offering a range of savory and fruit scents including baking bread, shaved almonds, dried herbs and white grapefruit with notes of apricots and fresh pears coming through along with a waft of allspice. Medium-bodied, the palate has wonderful vitality and energy with loads of mineral nuances and a long, intensely fruited finishing. Impressive for a second wine!"

Château Pape Clément / PESSAC-LÉOGNAN / CRU CLASSÉ DE GRAVES

Few great wines can boast seven centuries of history and trace their origins back to a pope.
Elected supreme pontiff during the reign of King Philip the Handsome in 1305, Clement V gave his name to Château Pape Clément.

The present owner does his utmost to perpetuate the ancient tradition of quality. Among other innovations, this was the first estate in Bordeaux to destem the entire crop by hand. The grapes are transported by gravity flow into small oak fermentation vats adapted to the yield of each plot. The entire winemaking process is conducted with minute attention to detail. Combining traditional and state-of-the-art techniques, Pape Clément is made according to the highest standards.

Everything is done in the vineyard to let the terroir express itself fully. As part of an environmentally-friendly approach, chemical weed killers have been abandoned in favour of ploughing.

Production
Red wine: 110,000 bottles / White wine: 10,000 bottles
 
Grape varieties
Red wine:
49% Merlot / 46% Cabernet Sauvignon / 3% Cabernet franc / 2% Petit Verdot

White wine:
45% Sauvignon / 45% Sémillon / 5% Muscadelle / 5% Sauvignon gris

 The 2019 Clementin De Pape Clement Blanc would be great for readers looking for an introduction to outstanding Bordeaux Blanc, as well as the white of this estate. Giving up pretty pineapple, orange, and citrus fruits, it's medium-bodied, has a supple, rounded mouthfeel, good freshness, and a great finish. 

A blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon, the 2019 Clémentin de Pape Clement Blanc was harvested from the 30th of August to the 13th of September. It was vinified in various types of vessels. Sixty percent was fermented in French oak barrels of varying capacities ranging from 225 to 500 liters, 22% of which were new. Seven percent was fermented in concrete eggs. Seventeen percent was fermented in large, French oak foudres, with 44% new. And 16% was fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The nose is already quite complex, offering a range of savory and fruit scents including baking bread, shaved almonds, dried herbs and white grapefruit with notes of apricots and fresh pears coming through along with a waft of allspice. Medium-bodied, the palate has wonderful vitality and energy with loads of mineral nuances and a long, intensely fruited finishing. Impressive for a second wine!

The 2019 Clémentin de Pape Clément Blanc has an attractive, quite understated bouquet of Golden Delicious apple, white peach and orange pith scents, still reminiscent of a white Rhône. The palate is well balanced, with much better acidity than the L’Ame Blanc, and just a dab of ginger on the finish livening things up. Fine.