97
JAMES SUCKLING: "Complex aromas of sliced apples, honey, pineapple and honeysuckle with hints of stones. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a beautiful finish. Intense and powerful. A combination of density and power. What a great finish. Drink in 2022 but fantastic to taste now."
94
WINE SPECTATOR: "Quite showy, with a broad and creamy feel, as this has a toasted macadamia nut frame around a large core of warm lemon pound cake, tangerine cream, white ginger and wet straw notes. Though hefty, this glides beautifully thanks to well-buried acidity. Best from 2018 through 2026."
92
THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "A strong vanilla note is the first thing you notice, before looking for the yellow, citrus fruits, white peach and stone. Round, forward and easy to drink, this should improve with age."
92
WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This is a ripe and tropical wine, complex with wood aging. It is warm, intensely rich and piled with mango and pineapple flavors. The acidity and crispness are well behind this smooth, creamy wine. Drink from 2022."
91
DECANTER: "As ever with this wine, there is clear oak barrel influence from the first attack, giving a rich intensity to the stone fruits, majoring on peach and mango. Fairly high alcohol, staying true to the house style but with a very attractive acidity underneath. This is sweet, rich, but with a biting lift. Drinking Window 2017 - 2028"
90
THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2014 Pape Clement Blanc was tasted three times during my tastings. In all three occasions, I felt that it has not quite delivered on that initial promise from barrel, missing the mineral tension of the finest white Bordeaux such as Domaine de Chevalier or Malartic-Lagravière Blanc. The palate is quite rounded on the entry and the new oak is more evident here, lending the texture an attractive creaminess, but filing away some of the tension and nervosité on the finish. I can picture it having broad appeal, but I was hoping for more terroir expression."