Château Pape Clement Blanc 2020

Château Pape Clément is from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, ranked among the Grands Crus Classés in the Classification of Graves wine of 1959. With vines initially planted in 1252, it is argued by some to be the oldest wine estate in Bordeaux. The estate was presented to Bertrand de Goth, a member of a local noble family, upon his appointment as archbishop of Bordeaux, by his brother. In 1305, Bertrand de Goth was elected Pope (he was one of seventeen popes with French ancestry) and took up his papal name, Clement V. In French, pope is called “pape”, meaning the spiritual father. Pape Clement left his estate to the successor archbishop of Bordeaux, who renamed the property to demonstrate the papal linkage. Bertrand would later move the papacy to Avignon, which led to the development of the famed wine region known as Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Pope’s New Castle in English) today.

As the story of many Church-affiliated estates, Château Pape Clément remained in the possession of archbishops of Bordeaux until the French Revolution, when it was nationalized and sold. By the middle of the 19th century, the estate was widely regarded to be second only to Château Haut-Brion. Some regard Château Pape Clément as the most important vineyard of Pessac-Léognan behind Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion.

"Pape Clement's 2020 Blanc leaps from the glass with gregarious notions of fresh pink grapefruit, Bosc pears and lime blossoms with hints of coriander seed, yuzu zest and white pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers fantastically intense citrus and pear flavors with a racy backbone and silky texture, finishing long and fragrant. The blend this year is 67% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sémillon and 3% Sauvignon Gris, with anticipated bottling projected to be taking place on December 14 and 15, 2021. The alcohol is 13.5%." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (5/20/2021), Ratings: (94-96), Drink: 2024-2037