2001 Pape Clement
By Chateau Pape Clement
2001 Pape Clement from Chateau Pape Clement, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux
The turn of the millennium brought copious accolades for Bordeaux, and the 2001 Pape Clement from Chateau Pape Clement stood as a testimony to their deserved merit. Nestled in Pessac-Leognan, the birthplace of classified Bordeaux wines, Chateau Pape Clement’s 2001 vintage echoes a symphony of balance and structure that resonates with fine wine enthusiasts and investors alike.
A Study in Elegance and Complexity
Amidst the fluctuating contours of early 2000s winemaking, this vintage emerged as a definitive star, galvanising its position among the oeuvre of Bordeaux legends. The climatic conditions of 2001 bestowed a moderate temperament upon the vines; a delayed but synergistic ripening that allowed full expression of varietal character. Harvested grapes translated these nuances into glasses with an orchestral precision that elevates this wine to a realm of near-ethereal quality.
Terroir and Temperament: Vinous Virtuosity
The gravelly soils synonymous with the terroir of Pessac-Leognan lent an arresting minerality to the 2001 Pape Clement. It’s a bouquet replete with ripe blackcurrant and laced with hints of earthy truffle and smoke—a rhapsody that intertwines with tannins still showing remarkable vitality two decades hence. Savvy wine investment aficionados recognise the age-worthiness, where time in the bottle unfurls layers like charts of heritage landscapes.
Sharing kinship with its renowned neighbours, this 2001 vintage speaks volumes about the meticulous viticulture and enlightened craftsmanship practised at Chateau Pape Clement. It's a composition that bridges historic discipline with contemporary finesse—a genuinely engaging narrative in every sip.
A Resonant Symphony for the Sagacious Collector
In summing up, this fine specimen from 2001 takes its place amongst the pantheon of greats from Chateau Pape Clement. The 2001 Pape Clement articulates its value proposition clearly to both connoisseur and investor; it boasts intrinsic quality coupled with burgeoning historical appeal. Holding a glass is akin to possessing a fragment of vinicultural history—a noble centrepiece in any serious collection or investment portfolio.
Market price (USD)
$1,480.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
80.67
Scores and tasting notes
A brilliant dense purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary perfume of camphor, graphite, plums, cassis, and barbecue spices. A prodigious, multilayered, medium-bodied effort with exceptional concentration, a fabulous texture, and a 50-second finish, this brilliant achievement is one of the vintage's monumental wines. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020+. P.S. Yields were a mere 28 hectoliters per hectare, which no doubt explains the wine's stunning concentration. One of the superstars of the vintage, Pape Clement's 2001 provides further evidence that this property, ambitiously managed with great dynamism by visionary Bernard Magrez, is pushing quality to the maximum and is obviously attempting to go head to head with its most famous rivals, Haut-Brion and La Mission-Haut-Brion (both located a few miles from Pape Clement).
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #153
Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On horizontal. This has a lovely bouquet that is so pure and vibrant: blackcurrant, cigar box and a touch of smoke all with great delineation and panache. The palate is medium-bodied with a slight softness on the entry, but then it really pulls together with a crisp, slightly leafy finish that is full of vigour and poise. This is a beautifully crafted Claret. Tasted March 2011.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2011