Chateau Pape Clement - Chateau Pape Clement blanc 2017

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2017 Chateau Pape Clement Blanc showed spectacularly well and is one of the wines (if not the wine) of the vintage. Based on 55% Sauvignon and 45% Semillon aged 14 months in barrel, it offers powerful notes of honeyed melon, tart pineapple, green figs, and floral notes as well as a terrific sense of minerality. Concentrated, medium to full-bodied, with rocking levels of acidity, give it 2-4 years and enjoy over the following 15 years or more."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Aromas of pineapple, peaches and apple pie with stone. Deep and intense, yet always subtle in the nose. Full-bodied, layered and very flavorful. However, it stays focused and precise in the mouth and at the finish. Serious length. Still needs three or four years to come together. Better after 2022."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Loaded with fruit from start to finish, the wine is rich, plush, fresh and balanced. The honeysuckle on top of all that ripe just-picked lemons, pomelo, rock and mango hits the spot. This should age nicely."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This features a beeswax frame around a large-scaled core of wet straw, creamed white peach, yellow apple and fennel flavors, while a racy quinine thread runs underneath. Shows a flash of brioche on the finish, with the beeswax element lingering. Needs a little time, but this is distinctive and beautiful. Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle. Best from 2021 through 2029."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The Pape Clement 2017 Blanc (composed of 55% Sauvignon Blanc and 45% Sémillon) has loads of exotic fruit—pineapple, green guava and passion fruit—with crushed stones, fragrant herbs and mandarin peel hints. The palate is medium-bodied, intense and racy with a long, pure, exotic fruit finish."

WEINWISSER: "55 % Sauvignon Blanc, 45 % Sémillon. Intensives, helles Gelb. Zartes, enorm facettenreiches facettenreiches Bouquet mit weissem Pfirsich, Nektarine, frisch geschnittener Ananas und einem Hauch Exotik. Am mittleren Gaumen mit stützender Frische, reifem Extrakt und spürbarer Mineralik. Im mittleren Finale mit Limonen und Wachsnoten, hat Saft, Extrakt und Frische."

DECANTER: "From the Bernard Magrez stable. Very plush yet with steely precision, this has a hint of Corton Charlemagne about it. Floral nose, zesty grapefruit and stone fruit on the palate – there is no lack of ambition here. Drinking Window 2020 - 2028"

FALSTAFF: "Helles Gelbgrün, Silberreflexe. Etwas verhalten, ein Hauch von Ananas und Mango, Nuancen von Mandarinenzesten. Saftig, feine gelbe Tropenfrucht, gute Komplexität, angenehme Fruchtsüße, Pfirsich im Abgang, bleibt haften, gutes Potenzial."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Creamy, cedary (oaky) aroma. Smells rich and ripe. Impressive depth here: citrus fruit as well as oak spice and richness. Full bodied but still fresh on the finish. Power rather than elegance but the balance is good."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Taut, steely and textured, this is a cool, crisp wine. With acidity and minerality all in play, the wine's long-term future is balanced by its immediate fruitiness. Drink this well-structured wine from 2021."