Chateau Pape Clement (Futures Pre-sale) 2010

"Deep ruby-purple. Perfumed aromas of strawberry, spicy plum and black cherry. Enters fresh, dense and juicy, with lovely balance to the sweet, syrupy black fruit flavors and lively acidity that extend the rich aftertaste. The long, clean finish features lingering notes of violet and blackcurrant and extremely polished tannins. A great wine and one of the stars of the vintage in 2010: I can't recall a better Pape Clement at a similar stage of development. I've taken issue with this wine in the past for overextraction, but this struck me as by far the most balanced Pape-Clement I've ever tasted. Michel Rolland consults here.
Barrel Sample: 94-97 Points "

97 Points

International Wine Cellar

"Very chewy, with wonderful blueberry and mineral character. Hints of mint too. Full and super classy. Love the texture of the tannins. Hyper-refined in texture.
Barrel Sample: 96-97 Points "

97 Points

James Suckling

"A flashy, modern style, with lots of dark fig, anise and graphite notes, pushed by more black currant sauce and tar. Ample toast runs through the finish, but this has plenty of raw material.
Barrel Sample: 93-96 Points "

96 Points

Wine Spectator

"Bernard Magrez's flagship estate continues to produce consistently beautiful wines and that includes his sensational 2010. The fruit was harvested between September 24 and October 20, and the result is an opaque purple-colored blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that achieved 13.5% alcohol naturally. Subtle notions of smoke, graphite, oak, black cherries and blackberries jump from the glass of this impressively perfumed claret. Medium to full-bodied, strikingly elegant and less thick and intense than a structured vintage such as 2005, the 2010 possesses remarkably sweet tannin (sweeter than the 2005) as well as a full-bodied, long finish. It should be drinkable at an early age and keep for 20-25 years.
Barrel Sample: 93-95 Points "

95 Points

The Wine Advocate