CHÂTEAU PAPE CLEMENT

The Grand Vin is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon that was cropped between 4th and 18th October at 37hl/ha. There is a lot of oak to be absorbed on the nose, although there appears to be plenty of brambly dark berry fruit to soak it up. It is slightly broody compared to the 2011 last year and will hopefully open up after bottling. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy, plump, ripe tannins and crisp acidity. It is harmonious and focused, good volume here, with a strict finish that displays good tension, although there is a slight dryness coming through on the aftertaste. Rating: 92-94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2013)

Deep ruby. Enticing spicy lift to the aromas of blueberry, peppermint, graphite and violet. Juicy, spicy and aromatic, showing moderate depth but good mineral intensity and definition to the dark berry fruit. Finishes quite dry, with a hint of greenness and building, slightly rough tannins. Rating: 87-90 Ian d'Agata, www.vinousmedia.com (May 2013)

The 2012 Pape Clement is one of the stars of the vintage, which is not surprising given this estate's performances over the last 10-15 years. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, it exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color along with a beautifully sweet, graphite-scented nose with hints of black currants, Asian plum sauce, soy and forest floor. Impressively built with medium to full-bodied flavors, it has more layers than many wines from this vintage, an appealing density and a velvety texture. Yields were a modest 37 hectoliters per hectare and the wine finished at 13.5% natural alcohol. This 132-acre estate has once again produced a prodigious wine in a challenging vintage. Bravo to proprietor Bernard Magrez Rating: 92-95 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Apr 2013)

A wine to admire rather than drink, at least in my view, this is super oaky, super dense and slightly cakey on the palate, with a hint of over-ripeness, even in a year like 2012. It’s a very serious, inky blend with lots of concentration, but I can’t help thinking it would taste better if it had been picked a few days earlier. Drink: 2020-30. Rating: 93 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2013)

Beautifully concentrated red and black fruits, an elegantly polished wine to be expected from Pape-Clement, satiny texture, very good future. Drink: 2016 - 2030. Rating: 17.5 Steven Spurrier (Apr 2013)

Rating: 17 Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Apr 2013)

Very intense dark purplish crimson. Super-clean refreshing-but-ripe black fruit aromas. Sweet palate entry and then rather refreshing and muscular. For the moment it's all ripe sweetness but it has the constitution for giving immense pleasure. All the constituents are in the right balance and the finish is most refreshing. 2019 - 2032. Rating: 17 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2013)

Nice black currant and anise notes mix with charcoal and roasted apple wood. Good fleshy feel. Has some exotic spice notes and clearly roasted woodsy notes, but seems a touch shy on stuffing. Rating: 89-92 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2013)